Grace Arrington Kempton
June 26, 1916 ~ February 1, 2012
Grace Arrington Kempton. 1916 2012. Obituary
Long-time McLean resident, business woman, and active community member Grace Arrington Kempton passed away peacefully at her home on Feb. 1, 2012. She was 95.
Grace is remembered for her good cheer, great optimism, deep patriotism, solid business sense, and a lifelong love of social gatherings. She was always sympathetic to people in need, and gave generously her time and money to support the individuals and causes that stirred her heart.
Grace was born in Rome, Georgia in 1916. She earned an A.B. in English literature from Shorter College, then a B.A in journalism from the University of Georgia in 1940. She married one of her journalism instructors, Willett Main Kempton, on August 5, 1939.
Her journalism career began as a society columnist for the Banner Herald in Athens, GA in 1940, and she was later a reporter for the Atlanta Constitution (1942) and the Army Public Relations Office (1942-1943) before writing society columns for Palm Beach (FL) Life (1947) and the McLean Providence Journal (1952-1953).
Grace enlisted in the army in 1943, and served in the Women's Army Corps at the Pentagon during World War II, where she attained the rank of captain before departing in 1945.
She was ever active in her community, and was a member of the Women's Board of the George Washington University Hospital (1953), the Northern VA board of Realtors, the VA Real state Association, the American Newspaper Women's Club, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Chi Omega, Women in Communications, the Heritage Foundation, and the Capital Speakers club.
Grace served as publicity chairman of the Fairfax County Cancer Society (1953), director of the McLean Horse Show Association, and in 1975, President of the Georgia State Society.
She founded and ran a public relations firm, the "Embassy Service Bureau" (1946 1947), then served as an administrative assistant to congressman Henderson Lanham (GA) from 1947 1948. She founded in 1955 the Grace A. Kempton Realty Company in Mclean, which she ran until the late 1980's.
Her husband, Willett, died in 1962, and her daughter, Grace Jr., died in 1973. Grace is survived by two sons, Willett Jr., a professor at the University of Delaware, and Houston, a geologist in Boulder, Colorado, and six grandchildren, Rueben (23), Judson (21), Hannah (18), Lauren (15), Isaac (14), and Dylan (13).
A memorial service for Grace will be held at the Trinity United Methodist Church, 1205 Dolly Madison Boulevard in McLean, on Saturday, February 11, at 2:00 p.m. A reception will follow immediately after the memorial at the Kempton's home, 1313 Rockland Terrace, McLean, VA. 22101.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Grace Kempton to:
INOVA Healthcare Foundation
8110 Gatehouse Road, #200
Falls Church, Virginia 22042
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
Long-time McLean resident, business woman, and active community member Grace Arrington Kempton passed away peacefully at her home on Feb. 1, 2012. She was 95.
Grace is remembered for her good cheer, great optimism, deep patriotism, solid business sense, and a lifelong love of social gatherings. She was always sympathetic to people in need, and gave generously her time and money to support the individuals and causes that stirred her heart.
Grace was born in Rome, Georgia in 1916. She earned an A.B. in English literature from Shorter College, then a B.A in journalism from the University of Georgia in 1940. She married one of her journalism instructors, Willett Main Kempton, on August 5, 1939.
Her journalism career began as a society columnist for the Banner Herald in Athens, GA in 1940, and she was later a reporter for the Atlanta Constitution (1942) and the Army Public Relations Office (1942-1943) before writing society columns for Palm Beach (FL) Life (1947) and the McLean Providence Journal (1952-1953).
Grace enlisted in the army in 1943, and served in the Women's Army Corps at the Pentagon during World War II, where she attained the rank of captain before departing in 1945.
She was ever active in her community, and was a member of the Women's Board of the George Washington University Hospital (1953), the Northern VA board of Realtors, the VA Real state Association, the American Newspaper Women's Club, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Chi Omega, Women in Communications, the Heritage Foundation, and the Capital Speakers club.
Grace served as publicity chairman of the Fairfax County Cancer Society (1953), director of the McLean Horse Show Association, and in 1975, President of the Georgia State Society.
She founded and ran a public relations firm, the "Embassy Service Bureau" (1946 1947), then served as an administrative assistant to congressman Henderson Lanham (GA) from 1947 1948. She founded in 1955 the Grace A. Kempton Realty Company in Mclean, which she ran until the late 1980's.
Her husband, Willett, died in 1962, and her daughter, Grace Jr., died in 1973. Grace is survived by two sons, Willett Jr., a professor at the University of Delaware, and Houston, a geologist in Boulder, Colorado, and six grandchildren, Rueben (23), Judson (21), Hannah (18), Lauren (15), Isaac (14), and Dylan (13).
A memorial service for Grace will be held at the Trinity United Methodist Church, 1205 Dolly Madison Boulevard in McLean, on Saturday, February 11, at 2:00 p.m. A reception will follow immediately after the memorial at the Kempton's home, 1313 Rockland Terrace, McLean, VA. 22101.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Grace Kempton to:
INOVA Healthcare Foundation
8110 Gatehouse Road, #200
Falls Church, Virginia 22042
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
Houston, I always remember your mom’s graciousness, kindness,and good cheer. It is clear she was very civic minded and gave of her time and service to her country and the Mclean community. She is a lovely lady. May source shine a comforting peace on your brother, you and your families
Kempie- We remember your mother fondly, her charming manner and gracious hospitality. We especially remember her kindness toward my grandmother after our wedding and the many other roles she played on that particular occasion. We will keep her memory in our hearts.
I had the pleasure of speaking with Ms. Kempton on several occasions when my husband, Joel, would visit her to help her with her hearing aids. She was a lovely woman, full of grace. Sincerely, Kelly Silverman
My husband and I had the privilege of knowing Grace through his parents, Mary Frances and Cleveland Eley, also of Mclean, and Georgians, as well. Grace assisted us in finding a place to live in Mclean, following our departure from military in 1980. We also got to know the lady she was as we were all members of the Georgia State Society. She will be missed, but what a wonderful life – 95 wonderful years! Our thoughts are with you all at this sad time.
Dear Houston, My thoughts are with you. I am quite sure that McLean as a community owes much to your mom. We were fortunate to have her in our mists. My best to you and your family Alison Hiatt Jacoby
Houston-I am so sorry to hear about the passing of Grace. It has been an honor to represent her interests with the insurance carriers and I truly loved my visits to her house in Mclean. She was always so proud of her family. I feel blessed to have known her. God Speed Grace Kempton!!
kempe & john houston, so very sorry to learn of your mothers passing. She was such a wonderful person. I have thought of her many times over the last 40 years.
Growing up in Mclean, Va. Grace Arrington Kempton was a pillar of our community. However I want to take this opportunity in mourning my very good friend Grace Kempton Langley High School Class of 1968 who we lost in a sky diving accident in 1973. I never laughed so hard when I was with Grace and friends at a Led Zeppelin Concert in Boston, this was before the police blew her mind by taking her on a tour of the city morgue. I am a Class of 1968 Langley Graduate,Varsity Baseball and Football. I’ve kept this to myself ever since Grace’s parachute did not open, I visited her at the George Washington Psychiatric ward in D.C. She was a greta young lady!!!! Robert Golff- LinkedIn