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Anne Tyler Cowherd Handy

Anne Tyler Cowherd Handy, 95, of Wheelersburg, passed away Sunday, March 19, 2023 surrounded by her family. Anne was born May 31, 1927 at Monteith Farms in Gordonsville, VA, a daughter of the late Roderick Grymes and E. Adelaide Walton Cowherd.

Anne lived a wonderful life, had five devoted children and was married to the love of her life for 63 years. She met her husband, Wesley Keith Handy, while they were both working in Saudi Arabia and they were married two years later in Gordonsville on March 12, 1960.

A graduate of Orange High School in Gordonsville, she then attended the College of William & Mary before working in Washington, DC for HUD. She had also worked for the Navy JAG School at the University of Virginia before leaving to work as a medical secretary for Aramco in Saudi Arabia. Upon returning to the States, she worked at the former Hernden Chevrolet in VA, for the DOE at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant and the New Boston Coke Plant, from where she retired.

Anne was a longtime member of the Wheelersburg United Methodist Church and she enjoyed her beautiful flowers, bird watching and had a collection of more than 300 bells.

Surviving is her beloved husband, Wesley Keith Handy; five daughters, Leslie Anne (Dave) Turner, Lisa Marie Handy and Laurie Keith Runyon, all of Wheelersburg, Lisbeth Lynne (J.R.) Redden of Lake Cormorant, MS and Robin Cowherd (Bill) Doss of Wasilla, AK; two siblings, Walton Rush (Sarah) Cowherd and Mary Jane Cook, both of Richmond, VA; six grandchildren, Johnathan Wesley (Tracy Arrowood) Sherman, Marianne (Andrew) Large, Rod Sherman, Nathan Doss, Robert Redden and Nick Doss; two great-grandchildren, Ethan and Gavin Large; one great-great grandson, Zander Arrowwood; a special family member, Jane Runyon Lozier of Wheelersburg; and her special caregiver, Brenda Quick of Wheelersburg.

In addition to her parents, Anne was also preceded in death by two sisters, Marion Louise Janney and Alice Daniel Walker; and her son-in-law, Joe Runyon.

A Celebration of Anne’s Life will be held at 1 P.M. Friday at the Ralph F. Scott Funeral Home in Portsmouth with Rev. Perry Prosch officiating and interment in St. Peter’s Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home Friday from 11 A.M. until the service hour.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to SOMC Hospice, 2201-25th St. Portsmouth, OH 45662 and the Louise Janney Wade Memorial Scholarship at Baylor University Gift Processing, One Bear Place #97050, Waco, TX 76798-7050, www.baylor.edu/give. Please write “Louise Janney Wade Memorial Scholarship” if gifting by check.

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