Dorothy was born on June 6, 1911 in Blacksburg, VA. Dot grew up in Blacksburg, VA, where her father, Edward Capshun, was a professor in the Agriculture department at Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI), now Virginia Tech, and her mother, Mildred, raised the children. She was the middle daughter with older and younger sisters, Clara and Gertrude. She attended Blacksburg High School, graduating in 1929, and then attended Virginia Tech, graduating in 1933. After college, she moved to Richmond to work at an agricultural company.
Frank was born on May 29, 1909 in Richmond, VA to Ted and Edith Lawrence, where his father worked in financial services. He graduated from John Marshall High School in 1927 and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in 1931. After graduation he went to work with his father in financial services.
It was in Richmond that Dot and Frank met through mutual friends at a picnic in Byrd Park. They began dating and were married in Dot’s hometown of Blacksburg on September 7, 1935.
In 1937, Frank got a job in insurance with Markel, and the couple moved to Newport News when Dot was pregnant with their first child. They had three sons – Frank, Jr., Richard “Dick”, and James “Jim” – and raised them all in Newport News. They had a happy upbringing with all three boys playing sports in high school, and they were active in the community.
Frank died of a heart attack at age 57. Dot died at age 77 in Hampton, where she was known as MeeMaw to her beloved grandchildren, whom she saw often.
Hampton, VA, USA
Section West, Lot M, Grave 23