Obituary

Laura evelyn rose “teddy” meyerhoffer, 99, passed away peacefully in the early morning of march 15, 2014 at hubbard hospice house in charleston, west virginia.
Nicknamed in childhood by her younger sister, teddy was born in yonkers, new york on september 5, 1914 to lena annabelle (davis) rose of cedar bluff, mississippi, and william harrison “harry” rose, chief warrant officer with the us army and langley army air corps of ossining, new york. She celebrated her 100th christmas in december with plans underway to honor her 100th birthday this summer with family from a half dozen states and several cities throughout virginia. A child of the military, teddy spent her early years in upstate new york, moving to california then panama before arriving at virginia’s langley afb as a high school senior. Shortly, she met robert edward “bob” meyerhoffer during a dance on the roof garden of the former chamberlin hotel in hampton. They married in august of 1937, bob later serving in the army as a paratrooper with the 11^th airborne during wwll. In 1951 they relocated to chesapeake beach, or “old chick’s beach”, where teddy volunteered with the chesapeake beach woman’s club and ladies auxiliary fire department while raising her family. Educated at mary washington college, she later received her teaching certification from the college of william and mary. Teddy adored children and spent her working years in early education teaching kindergarteners and first-graders. She retired from the virginia beach public school system in 1974. A creative, can-do free spirit with an eye for color and scale, she championed artistic expression of all kinds and especially reading, which became her hallmarks in the classroom and life in general. From sewing, painting and design to baking and belly dancing, she remained an avid reader, known to tackle an entire book in a single day.
Upon retirement, teddy volunteered her energies with the virginia beach chapter of the dar, hospital of the kings’ daughters, haygood methodist church, and as a costumed docent with the historic francis land house. Bob had retired as a planner and estimator with the norfolk navy shipyard and, after 56 years of marriage, passed away in 1993. For nearly 20 years, teddy has since made westminster-canterbury on chesapeake bay her home, embracing her life there among many dear friends. She met life’s transitions head-on with grace, good humor and common sense, always looked ahead, and never lost her sense of style, ladylike manner, sass and whimsy. Gracious, joyful, highly expressive with little use for “˜the ordinary’, she was ‘teddy’ to many but to nearly everyone else no matter their age, she was simply “˜granny’. Her legacy is the immense and unconditional capacity of love for her family. Through the years she undertook many a “˜field trip’ to visit with them and was in their company during her final days.
Teddy is also predeceased by her daughter julianne meyerhoffer adkins, infant son robert edward meyerhoffer, jr., and sister gloria ann “goey” smith. Survivors include her two children: daughter, laura lee albert and son-in-law michael a. Albert of charleston; son robert michael meyerhoffer and daughter-in-law mary elizabeth meyerhoffer of yorktown, va; six grandchildren: rebecca kessler and husband bill of louisville, ky; jennifer guerrero and husband joe of gloucester, va; kathryn houkom and husband levi of minneapolis, mn; dr. Michael a. Albert, jr. And wife dr. Amy jarvis albert of birmingham, al; jason albert and wife kristen of greenville, sc; and melissa hamilton and husband grant of charlotte, nc; nine “˜precious angel’ great-grandchildren: emma percival (louisville); david guerrero (newport news); lukas houkom (minneapolis); jack, nate and “bo” albert (birmingham); xavier albert (greenville); thomas, william and elizabeth hamilton (charlotte); and great-great-grandchild david guerrero, jr. (newport news); and nephew ray blaum of suffolk, va, niece donna payne of fairfield, nj and their families. With roots that trace back to the american revolution, she leaves behind generations of extended family throughout the country.
A memorial service led by the reverend dr. Greg dalle-tezze is planned for 2:30 this saturday afternoon in the chapel of westminster-canterbury at 3100 shore drive, virginia beach, with reception following in the bay room. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations please be made to the emergency employee fund of westminster-canterbury on chesapeake bay.
Barlow bonsall funeral home has been entrusted to handle the arrangements.