NORFOLK - Lena R. Bailey, 86, after a 10-year battle with Alzheimer's disease and related complications, passed away July 8, 2010 in the emergency room of Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center with her son and daughter-in-law at her side. She was born in Dinwiddie County, Virginia, June 25, 1924 to the late Earnest L. Rogers and Virginia E. Rogers. She was preceded in death by her husband, James W. Bailey. She is survived by her son, Robert L. Bailey and wife Margaret of Chesapeake and two sisters, Marie Gaddis of Poquoson, Va., and Elinor Tucker of Duluth, Ga. In addition, she is survived by one niece and several nephews. After graduating from Sunnyside-McKenney High School in 1942, Mrs. Bailey began her working career starting as a telephone operator with the C&P Telephone Company. She later embarked on a long career with the U.S. civil service working at several local military installations including a long stint as a telephone accounts clerk at Fort Eustis before her retirement. Prior to the onset of Alzheimer's, Lena was a longtime member of Parkview United Methodist Church, Newport News, Va. Both the viewing and the funeral will take place at H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts., Chesapeake Chapel, 1416 Cedar Road, Chesapeake, VA 23322. The viewing will be from 7 to 8 p.m. Monday, July 12. The funeral will be at 12:30 p.m. July 13. The burial will take place at 2:30 p.m. July 13 at Peninsula Memorial Park, Newport News, Va. Her family would like to thank the dedicated staff of Envoy Thornton Hall Nursing Home of Norfolk for the attentive and loving care given to Lena for the past 10 years. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association at alz.org.

Published in The Virginian Pilot on July 11, 2010