- Gabrielle Sollo Swofford Gabrielle Sollo Swofford died on Wednesday, October 5, 2011, at the Colonnades in Charlottesville, Virginia.
For the past two years, Gabrielle had been residing in the Alzheimer's unit at the Colonnades. She was born on July 18, 1937, in Moline, Illinois, the daughter of Frank and Buel Sollo. She graduated from high school in Moline and then attended Duke University where she received a BA degree in Chemistry. She subsequently earned a Masters of Arts from Colorado University in Boulder, Colorado. During her life, Gabrielle was always interested in animals. She was a member of the United States Pony Club and encouraged her daughter to participate in all phases of the organization's riding programs. She had a fondest for dogs and always had two or more large dogs as part of her household. In her later years she became interested in the "Guiding Eyes for the Blind" program. She served as a trainer for young dogs entering the program by keeping them for two years prior to the dogs entering the formal part of their training. After moving about the country for several years with her first husband, Frank W. Swofford, they settled in Fairfax County, Virginia. While there Gabrielle raised her two children. She served as a mathematics teacher in the Fairfax County school system for six years. In 1996, Gabrielle moved to Greene County residing in the countryside where she could enjoy her large dogs. After a period of time, she joined the staff of the Thomas Jefferson Regional Library working in the Greene County branch. In 2001, Gabrielle married C. Ralph Renfro and they continued to reside in Greene County until moving into the Colonnades in 2007. Gabrielle is survived by her husband, Ralph Renfro and her daughter, Kristin Swofford McGraw, who resides in Seffner, Florida. A memorial service will be held at a later date in Arlington, Virginia. Any memorial contributions are suggested to the Alzheimer's Association, 1160 Pepsi Place, Suite 306, Charlottesville, VA 22901.
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1937 - 2011 (74 years)
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