Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Vita B. AlexanderEEG Technician
Vita Buhl Alexander, 81, an EEG technician at the National Institutes of Health from the early 1970s to the mid-1980s, died Jan. 14 at Sound TLC, a nursing home in the Seattle suburb of Des Moines. She had Alzheimer's disease.
EEG, or electroencephalography, is a test that measures electrical activity in the brain.
Mrs. Alexander was born in Cordova, Alaska, to Danish immigrants. The family returned to Denmark during the Depression.
Mrs. Alexander came back to the United States in 1946 and received a nursing certificate from Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. She settled in the Washington area in the mid-1950s.
She was a former Fairfax County resident and moved to Seattle in 1996. She was a former member of Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington.
Her hobbies included lace-making, painting and gardening.
Her marriage to Dr. Albert D. Alexander ended in divorce.
Survivors include two daughters, Betty Rae Emery of Eustis, Fla., and Vita Sheehy of Seattle; a sister, Ann Good of Seattle; a brother, Roy E. Buhl of Catharpin; and two grandchildren.
-- Adam Bernstein
Anna K. WebbTeacher
Anna K. Webb, 86, who taught elementary school in the District for more than 30 years and later was director of the Vienna Baptist Children's Center, died of cancer Jan. 16 at her home in Vienna.
She was born in Washington and graduated from McKinley Tech High School in 1939 and Wilson Teachers College in 1943. She taught primarily at Oyster and Fillmore elementary schools in the District and was a reading teacher at Hardy Junior High School. She retired in 1977.
She served as director of Vienna Baptist's preschool from 1980 to 1985. She developed, planned and was awarded a grant to create and construct a children's play park, which the church named in her honor.
Throughout her life, Mrs. Webb maintained an interest in children and senior citizens. She was co-founder and director of the 50-90 Senior Citizens Club of Vienna and was awarded Citizen of the Year in 1978 by the Vienna Chamber of Commerce. Her volunteer work was recognized by the Vienna Elks Club in 1990.
Mrs. Webb was a lifelong member of the Twenty Club of Wilson Teachers College.
Her husband of 54 years, Robert S. Webb Sr., died in 1999.
Survivors include two children, Robert S. Webb Jr. of Fairfax Station and Leslie L. Hunt of Glen Allen, Va.; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
-- Yvonne Shinhoster Lamb
Patricia Beall BachEmployee Development Specialist
Patricia Beall Bach, 79, who taught television and radio production at American University before joining the Postal Service Management Academy, died Jan. 18 of complications of respiratory disease at Eden Homes, an assisted living facility in Bethesda.
Mrs. Bach, who was among the first women in the Washington area to work in television, helped to design and raise money for the first TV studio at American University. In 1973, she became a senior employee development specialist and conducted training at the Postal Service Management Academy. She retired in 1986.
Mrs. Bach was born in Washington and grew up a few blocks from the National Cathedral. She was a descendant of Col. Ninian Beall, a Scotsman who in 1703 obtained the land that would later encompass Georgetown and the White House. Another Beall ancestor built what is now known as Dumbarton Oaks.
She received a bachelor's degree at Catholic University and a master's degree from American University. She was a longtime resident of the Bethesda and Chevy Chase areas.
Mrs. Bach, who had a lifelong interest in fiber arts, volunteered at the Textile Museum. She also traveled extensively in Guatemala, Peru and Mexico, learning about regional weaving patterns and dyes and adding to her collection of hand-loomed fabrics.
She married in 1978, and she and her husband were active in museum events in Washington and continued to make trips to Central America and South America.
Her husband, Norman Bach, died in 1992.
Survivors include a brother, John N. Beall of Stanwood, Wash., formerly of McLean.
-- Yvonne Shinhoster Lamb
Dorcas Teal GlasgowChurch Member, Musician
Dorcas Teal Glasgow, 91, a member of Hyattsville Presbyterian Church who played the piano and organ there and at two other churches, died Jan. 12 at her home in Hyattsville. She had Alzheimer's disease.
At her church, she also served as an elder and a Sunday school superintendent and teacher. In addition, she provided music at Pinkney Memorial Episcopal Church in Hyattsville and at St. Andrew's Scottish Presbyterian Church in Brussels, when she and her husband lived there in the late 1950s.
She was born in her parents' Hyattsville home, which was adjacent to the residence where she lived as an adult. She was a graduate of Hyattsville High School. She graduated from the University of Maryland in 1937. She was a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority and was honored with its Order of the Rose for more than 50 years of service.
Mrs. Glasgow taught French and English at Bladensburg High School from 1937 to 1940 and later was a substitute teacher at elementary schools in Prince George's County.
She enjoyed being a homemaker, and she volunteered with the Red Cross and the Girl Scouts of America.
Her husband of 56 years, Augustus Rossell Glasgow Jr., died in 1995.
Survivors include three daughters, Dorcas Zoller of Ellicott City, Nancy Whitney of Silver Spring and Carol Perlmeter of Barnesville; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
-- Yvonne Shinhoster Lamb
Raquel P. OwenWorld Bank Employee
Raquel Pinel Owen, 67, who retired from the World Bank in 1995 as a benefits counselor, died Jan. 10 at Inova Fairfax Hospital. She had complications from a burst cerebral aneurysm that occurred two weeks earlier.
Mrs. Owen was a native of San Marcos de Colon, Honduras, and began her World Bank career in 1961 as a bilingual secretary. During her bank career, she also was an administrative assistant for the United Nations Development Programme.
She was an Annandale resident and, in retirement, was a volunteer Spanish translator for the Fairfax County court system.
She received a business administration certificate in 1960 from what was then Strayer College.
She married Ernest J. Owen in 1961. He died in 2002.
Survivors include three sons, Evan W. Owen, who works for the State Department in Caracas, Conan D. Owen of Charlottesville and Dylan G. Owen of Fairfax County; a brother; and five grandchildren.
-- Adam Bernstein
Louis O. Cox Jr.Accountant
Louis O. Cox Jr., 87, a longtime accountant in Washington, died Jan. 19 of a stroke at his home in Conway, N.H.
Mr. Cox was born in Wheeling, W.Va., and moved to Washington at a young age. He graduated from Eastern High School and Benjamin Franklin University. He was a certified public accountant.
After working briefly for the State Department, Mr. Cox joined the forerunner of the Councilor, Buchanan & Mitchell accounting firm in 1947. He conducted audits and did tax work for businesses and savings and loan institutions. He retired in 1982.
Mr. Cox moved from Chevy Chase to New Hampshire in 1982. His interests included woodworking, reading, cooking and investing.
He and his wife of 48 years, Kathryn M. Cox, traveled extensively throughout the United States, Canada and other countries.
She died in 2006.
Survivors include a sister, Jane C. Kidwell of Annandale.
-- Matt Schudel
