Brenda Devers Rugless of Lake of the Woods, Locust Grove, Virginia born November 26, 1940 to Ralph and Laurine Devers of Corpus Christi, Texas, left this earth for her heavenly home on July 7, 2018. She was the oldest of four sisters that included Gina (deceased, 1967), Merle Goldreyer, and Margo Chapman, all of Corpus Christi. 

After graduating from W.B. Ray High School in Corpus Christi in 1959, she earned her BA from the University of Texas in 1963. She returned to Corpus Christi to begin a teaching career at Mary Carroll High School, and in 1965 met and fell in love with James Michael Rugless, a young naval officer at the Corpus Christi Naval Air Station. They were married on January 8, 1966. Following the wedding, they moved to Honolulu Hawaii, and began 23 years as a Navy family, with tours of duty in Port Hueneme, CA; Sigonella, Sicily; Coronado, CA; and the Washington DC area. After Mike’s retirement from the Navy in 1988, they remained in Fairfax, Virginia, until 2002, when they moved to their current home in Lake of the Woods, Virginia. 

Survivors include husband Mike Rugless; son Brendon Rugless of Williamsburg, VA and his two sons, Ian and Collin; and daughter Jamie Raab of Brentwood, TN, her husband Gregory Raab, and their five children, Meaghan, Timothy, Allison, Shannon, and Luke; sisters Merle Goldreyer and Margo Chapman of Corpus Christi TX; nephew, Jason Tindall of Houston, Texas; niece, Lori Parker, of Gainesville, Virginia, her husband John Henry Parker, and their daughter Katherine. 

Brenda’s greatest joys were her children and grandchildren and she loved having them over and including them in their vacations as well as visiting them. She loved games, particularly with the family, and was an excellent and devoted bridge player. Cooking and entertaining were her favorite hobbies, always looking for opportunities to invite friends over for a meal, or games, or both. Her true forte was being a marvelous storyteller, regaling friends and acquaintances for hours on end. Most were based on personal experiences, which she often described as either ‘great times, or some that made for a great story!’ 

She was an active member of the Lake of the Woods Church, and served in many volunteer positions which she loved, including women’s Bible studies, couples’ small groups, and mentoring Mothers of Preschoolers. She loved meeting new friends and learning all about them. Quite the conversationalist, she would often say, “I could even talk to an empty hat and coat!” To know her was to never forget her; she made lasting impressions on everyone she met, and in turn, she never forgot anyone she met, nor the story that went with them. She loved well, was well loved and will be missed.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 1, 2018 at the Lake of the Woods Church, 1 Church Lane, Locust Grove, VA 22508.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lake of the Woods Church.