Mary Digby Heatwole, a longtime resident of Newport News, passed away in Richmond on
November 3 at 99 years old.
Mary was born in Little Rock, Arkansas and was the daughter of the late Thomas and Ernie Digby.
She was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Eugene W. Heatwole, her sister Reba Louise Nichols,
and youngest brother Vernon Jack Digby.
Mary spent her childhood years in Hot Springs and Arkadelphia and, as a young adult, moved with
her family to Houston, Texas where she took an interest nursing, first earning a degree in nursing
from Jefferson Davis hospital (1951) and completing a BS in nursing at the University of Houston
(1953). She was working at Jefferson Davis when she met Gene, an intern arrived from the
University of Virginia School of Medicine.
Mary and Gene married in 1953 and when he took a residency in ophthalmology at Medical College
of Virginia in Richmond, she moved to Virginia with him. In Richmond, she taught nursing at Grace
Hospital and, when Gene started in private practice in Newport News, she worked at Riverside
Hospital before taking time off to raise her children. In the 70’s, she began working again as an
office administrator and clinical assistant at her husband’s practice and continued in that capacity
through his retirement in 2001.
Mary was a member of Temple Sinai for over fifty years and was active in the Temple Sisterhood.
She was a loving mother and absolutely doted over her grandchildren.
She is survived by her siblings Tommi Jean Means and Robert Raymond Digby; her children,
daughter Lisa Jean Chace and son Thomas Boyd Heatwole (Melissa); her grandchildren Helen
Elaine Rosenkrantz, Michael Alan Rosenkrantz, Sarah Madeleine Heatwole and Ethan Calder
Heatwole; and her great granddaughter Lula Rose Cichanowsky.
There will be a graveside service 11 AM Friday at Peninsula Memorial Park, 12750 Warwick Blvd.,
Newport News, VA.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to Temple Sinai or The American Cancer Society.
