May 29, 1941-Sept. 14, 2021
Elizabeth Jeanne Reddick Straw, 80, of Richmond, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021, at Sunrise Senior Living of Richmond.
Elizabeth (Beth) was the daughter of the late George Whit Reddick and Ethel Ransdell Reddick of Fuqua-Varina, N.C.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Robert Whittle Straw; her brother, George Whit Reddick Jr.; her daughter, Melanie Fox; and her son, David Straw.
Left to cherish her memory are her two sons, Robert Straw (Marzella) of Switzerland and Matthew Straw (Leslie) of Richmond; sister, Susan Harbrook (Michael) of Hurt; sister-in-law, Lena Reddick of Fuqua-Varina, N.C.; grandchildren, Ann-Christine Straw-Vossberg (Pasqual), Sarah-Maria Straw-Zrotz (Nic), Franziska Straw, Jeannette Straw, Preston Fox, Emily Fox, Marybeth Fox, Kathryn Straw, Laura Jane Straw and John Straw; five great-grandchildren; and numerous extended family and friends.
She grew up in Raleigh, N.C., where she was baptized at Millbrook Baptist Church and later attended the College of William and Mary, Norfolk campus (now Old Dominion University). While in college, she met her husband-to-be, Bob, in community theater.
A mother of three by the age of 21, the couple lived in various places around Virginia including Keysville, Harrisonburg, and Newport News, until settling in Richmond in support of Bob’s career with State Farm Insurance. Throughout the years, Beth worked as a small business owner, bank teller, real estate agent, accountant, and antique dealer. She retired from the University of Richmond’s accounting department to move to Urbanna when her husband retired.
Beth thrived when doing charitable work and when she was doing things for others. She and Bob were volunteers with the Urbanna Volunteer Rescue Squad, where she was a paramedic, and he was a driver. She volunteered at the Urbanna Thrift Store for many years which benefited the Urbanna Branch of the Middlesex County Public Library. She was a member of Urbanna Baptist Church, where she was very active in multiple ministries including puppets, kitchen, bereavement, flowers, church clerk, youth mission trips, and the Live Nativity.
A memorial service for Beth is planned for 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 11, at River Road Church, Baptist at 8000 River Road in Richmond. The service will be simultaneously broadcast via livestream for family and friends who cannot attend at rrcb.org/bethstraw. Online condolences are at obituaries.virginiacremate.com.
