Dixie Lee Cobb Nowak, 85 departed this world on January 9, 2025, to join the love of her life, Frank Stanley Nowak who preceded her in death in 2018. She was born to Forrest A Cobb and Anna Elisabeth Stahle Cobb on July 2,1939 in Boulder, Colorado, but was a lifelong residence of York County. Dixie and Frank were married for 56 years and most days she would tell you that it was not long enough. Dixie had three children, Willard ‘Scott’ Myers (Andrea), Frank Stanley Nowak, Jr and Anna Elisabeth Guardipee. When asked, Dixie would tell you without hesitation that being a mother and wife is her most important job and her proudest accomplishment. And her family would add, without hesitation, that she did it lovingly and selflessly.

Dixie retired from the Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authority as an Automated Data Processing Supervisor in 2001 after a long year of successful career. After her retirement Dixie had a dream and a desire to share her love for cooking and special knack for turning an ordinary meal into something extraordinary. Along with her sister Patsy, and a carefully chosen menu of her favorite recipes, Stahle Chief was born. For several years, Dixie and Patsy would travel to their customers’ homes and stock their freezers with fresh meals. Eventually, Stahle Chief started catering events and the help of Frank was enlisted. It would be hard to determine who benefited more from the Stahle Chiefs, Dixie, or her customers. With this business, Dixie was able to make her dream come true, all the while adding a little something special to her customers. And she would be quick to tell you she spent all the company profits on her two employees’ Christmas lunch, making her the best boss.

Dixie had numerous passions in life. She loved her church Family at Saint Joan of Arc where she and Frank were members since 1983. Dixie and Frank would be found in “their pew “regularly at the 8:30 am Sunday mass. She was an active member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Knights, and she was famous for her scones at the Auxiliary Bake sale. She also coordinated the team of volunteers who washed the alter linens every Sunday after Mass. Dixie loved her plants and took considerable pride in having her porch and patio ready for Spring. At the end of day, she was happiest at 300 Bolivar in her kitchen cooking a meal for her family or friends or sitting on her porch with a glass of wine with Frank or friends reminiscing, surveying the yard and likely planning the next event with the kids.

Left to cherish Dixie and honor her memory are 10 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren along with numerous special nieces, nephews, cousins, as well as great nieces and nephews. Also surviving Dixie are two sisters, Fronie Harris and Patsy Inge and a brother-in-law Robert Gwaltney. Dixie had many special friends who, if they come to the house more than once, are family.

Dixie greatest love was her family. She loved us unconditionally and when it came to her family, she was selfless. Dixie’s grandchildren were an incredible source of joy in her life, from her special pet names to trips to get Summer Sandals, endless rounds of You Are My Sunshine and crazy birthday dinners. She was a one-of-a-kind G-ma. She planned countless beach trips to the Sandcastle in the Outer Banks and cooked numerous Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter meals. She hosted more parties, cook-outs, and reunions than we could count. She was a loyal and loving friend, a gracious host whose door and patio were always open with a full wine cooler. She had beautiful blue eyes that were never aged, a sweet soul that everybody loved and a hug that could always make everything better. She was a friend to many, an amazing cook and host and a loving sister, daughter, and wife. However, our family will miss her most for being our mom and Gma. You are our Sunshine!

The family would like to thank Kim Brown for taking care of mom for the last several years. You not only said it was an honor to do so, but you showed it in your loving care every day. Our family can never thank you enough. If interested in donating in Dixies honor, please consider either the Truck Safety Coalition, www.trucksafety.org or Pancreatic Cancer Society, www.pancan.org.

The family will receive friends on Friday, January 24, at 12:00 p.m. at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church with a funeral mass following at 1:00 p.m. Burial will be held at Peninsula Memorial Park.

Arrangements are under the care of Peninsula Funeral Home, 11144 Warwick Blvd., Newport News, Virginia 23601.