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Genevieve B. Wimsatt
GENEVIEVE B. WIMSATT October 31, 1912 - June 23, 2011 Miss
Wimsatt, the only child of Elizabeth Rebecca Fields and Samuel Cleary
Wimsatt, came from a line of independent women who operated businesses
at times when most women dared not, authored books and took strong
positions, cared for older generations, and made marks in their community.
Although she had suitors, she never married. Genevieve loved Rockville,
Maryland, but was proud to be a native Washingtonian. Her mother's family
published the Montgomery County Sentinel, beginning in 1855 with
Genevieve's great-grandparents Matthew and Rebecca Fields.
Her father was also a native Washingtonian, and his family, which owned
considerable land, by the 20th century specialized in lumber.
Genevieve's happy childhood in Cleveland Park ended in 1924 when her
parents separated. With her mother's family on the Fields farm (now part of
the King Farm development), she forged life-long bonds with five girl
cousins.
She graduated from Central High School at age 14, then went on to the
George Washington University. During the Depression, she began graduate
work at Radcliffe and earned a master's degree at GWU.
She returned home to help care for her grandmother and then her
mother. Most of Genevieve's career was as an economist in the U.S.
Department of Commerce. When she retired in 1970, she worked at the
Brookings Institution researching public policy issues.
After her mother's death in 1964, Genevieve felt free to travel. Her tours
took her to China, Italy, Russia, Spain, Iceland, the United Kingdom, and
Mexico. Before each trip she read and took classes on the language, culture,
art, and architecture of the part of the world she was about to explore. She
returned from each adventure with art, artifacts, and new interests. For
years, she spent winter months in Mexico and Florida, and a summer month
in Monhegan, Maine.
She was adventuresome at home also. In 1970, Genevieve and a friend
purchased adjoining townhouses in New Mark Commons, which she
furnished with family antiques, travel treasures, and modern art. She helped
to start Peerless Rockville in an effort to rescue historic places. There she
edited The Peer (published in the broadsides format of her Fields
ancestors), scrubbed the B&O Railroad Station and championed its
preservation, and served as president from 1976-78.
She served on the Rockville Civic Improvement Advisory Commission
and the Planning Commission. She took the helm at the Montgomery
County Historical Society from 1979-82, where she helped organize new
events and the Civil War Round Table, and planned for an expanded library
and research facility.
In 1982, Genevieve joined the Metropolitan Washington Chapter of
ARCS, a foundation to advance science and technology by funding
scholarships in science, engineering, and medical research. She took bridge
and dancing lessons, played golf, read and wrote, joined public speaking and
gardening clubs, and attended art classes, opera and theater performances.
In each place, she made lasting friendships. Still energetic in her 70s,
Genevieve moved into Asbury Methodist Village.
She approached her new community with zest, making friends and
employing her many talents. She helped to organize a new library and the
campus TV station, wrote articles for the newspaper, and joined a variety of
groups. She took classes, entertained friends, and exercised regularly.
She lived independently until 2009, when she moved into assisted living,
and the following year into the Wilson Center, where she maintained her
grace and good humor until the end.
A memorial service will be held at Guild Chapel in Asbury on July 15 at
10 a.m., after which Miss Wimsatt will be buried in Rock Creek Cemetery
with her parents.
She is fondly remembered by cousins Mary Beth and Bruce Fleming of
Frederick MD, Margaret Ann Carmichael of Tarpon Springs FL, Charles
and Hettie Dooley of Surfside Beach SC, Garry and Beth Bell of Annandale
VA, and a myriad of friends, colleagues, and admirers.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Benevolent Fund of
Asbury Methodist Village, Montgomery County Historical Society, or
Peerless Rockville Historic Preservation.
Published in The Washington Post from June 28 to June 29, 2011
