Born on December 11, 1924, Beverly Warner Bose Deans,98, of Roanoke, Va. passed peacefully on Sunday, March 5, 2023.

The only child of the late William Christie and Marjorie Warner Bose, growing up in Hartford, Connecticut, her childhood identity of being from the north was bridged to the south by attending the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va. It was there she met her future husband, Fred Hinton Deans, who had recently returned from serving in the United States Navy during World War II. She utilized her degree in Sociology to teach and justify her delight in studying and observing society and world affairs.

Creating their own family, Beverly and Fred continued to live and work in Williamsburg until they moved with their children, Debbie and Woody, to Roanoke in 1952 to be closer to relatives. Roanoke then became their beloved hometown where they had many happy years. Following Fred’s passing in 1996, Beverly continued her journey, nurturing her family and contributing to her community.

Due to diverse interests, Beverly had a wide circle of extended family and friends. Foremost  was her church family at Virginia Heights Baptist, currently Heights Community Church, where she was Deacon, Co-Director of Women on Mission (WOM), member of the Philathea Sunday School Class and was named Deacon Emeritus in 2012. Beverly was also a member and officer of the Colonel William Preston Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). Coming from the Williamsburg Chapter to the Roanoke Chapter of her college sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma (KKG), Beverly maintained an active member throughout her life. Fred affectionately called these organizations her “alphabet” clubs.

A caring mother and grandmother, “Mimi’s” life was centered around the lives of children and grandchildren. She loved going to visit Deb and Chip on the farm; visiting and dining frequently with Woody and Suzie at their home; watching Woody coach Patrick Henry Basketball; following Deb’s Craig County projects; and celebrating birthdays and holidays with loved ones. The annual family reunion at Smith Mountain Lake was always a highlight. She loved reading her devotions and studying geography and maps, politics, world affairs, history, and wildlife. Although she did not have a dog of her own since she was a little girl, she loved everyone else’s pups!

Beverly was preceded in death by her husband, Fred Hinton Deans; two special “sisters,” Evelyn Watts Deans and Evelyn Preddy Rinaldi; and niece, Anne Boyd Wolfenden.

Living on with her memories are her daughter, Deborah Warner Deans Snead and husband, George “Chip” Snead, of Craig County, Va.; son, Linwood Hinton Deans and wife, Suzanne, of Roanoke, Va.; granddaughters, Jennifer Rebecca Deans Luecking and husband, Justin, of Bethesda, Md., and Kristina Elizabeth Deans Osuch and husband, Brandon, of Rogers, Arkansas; and the joy of her life, great-grandchildren, Olivia Kristina Luecking, Jackson Linwood Luecking, and Evelyn Ellie Osuch. Remembering their Aunt Bev are her nieces and nephews, Susan and Tom Blanding, Robin Deans and Clayton Howze, Bob and Karen Deans, Jim and Marcia Richardson, Betty Jo and Larry Allen, and their families. Beulah Brown Fuller was Beverly’s special helper and loving friend.

Everyone looked forward to being with Mom and Mimi, whose personal life was guided by the ethics of her Christian faith, wisdom, kindness and dignity. The awareness of her lingering sweet spirit will soon fill us with fond memories and we will remember Mom and Mimi with love forever.

The family and friends will gather to remember Beverly for a memorial service at 2 p.m. on Monday, March 13, 2023, at Oakey’s South Chapel. Visitation will be held two hours prior to the service at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, Beverly asked that you consider a memorial contribution to Heights Community Church, 2014 Memorial Avenue, Roanoke, VA 24015 or to the Craig County Field of Dreams, P.O. Bo 371, New Castle, VA 24127. Online condolences may be expressed  to the family at www.Oakeys.com.

Arrangements