HEATHSVILLE—Phyllis Wood Fravel, 95, of Heathsville passed away December 13, 2021. She is with her Lord and Savior.
Phyllis was born in Pennsylvania on December 7, 1926, but spent much of her childhood in the row houses of northwestern Washington, D.C. While working for the wartime federal government, she met her future husband, Gerald Fravel, while taking night classes. They moved to the Shenandoah Valley, after a few years, they settled in Prince William County to raise five children. After her children left home, Phyllis and Gerald found themselves in Aldie for a number of years.
She leaves as her legacy her five children, Richard Fravel and his wife, Vicki; Jeanne and her husband, Jack Meyers; Benjamin Fravel and his wife, Trisha; Katherine and her husband, Dan Eskridge; Gary Fravel and his wife, Alison. She also leaves to cherish her memory 14 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald Fravel; sisters, Jeanne Davis and Barbara Wood; and granddaughter, Vonda Kaye Harold.
Phyllis will be remembered for her numerous talents. As an accomplished pianist, she played for everything from family singalongs to church services. Her talents as a pianist were so great that her mother even dreamt of her becoming a concert pianist, but World War II redirected that dream.
Phyllis was also a lifelong artist with love for watercolor and oil paintings. Her paintings can be found in many of her children’s homes. Writing, however, was her passion. She was published many times, including a regular political column for the Potomac News in the 1960s and 70s and two novels, Room Board and Murder and Knobbe Cove.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, December 17, at Miller’s Funeral Home in Woodbridge. Interment will immediately follow at Stonewall Memorial Gardens in Manassas. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to a charity of your choice.
