Grace Golda Renfrow Dettenmayer

• Born: Sept. 16, 1924 Wilson, NC
• Died: Dec. 5, 2003 St. Mary's, VA
• Buried: Sunset Memorial Gardens, Four Mile Fork, Spotsylvania County, VA
• Married: George Richard Dettenmayer on July 4, 1947, in Chicago, IL

Grace Golda Renfrow Dettenmayer was born Sept. 16, 1924, and died on Dec. 5, 2003. She married George Richard Dettenmayer on July 4, 1947.
Grace's children with George Richard Dettenmayer
Gary Richard Dettenmayer July 6, 1948 East St. Louis, IL-Jan. 8, 1972 Fredericksburg, VA; Buried in Sunset Memorial Gardens, Four Mile Fork, Spotsylvania County, VA
Lynn Allen Dettenmayer
Heather Ann Dettenmayer Fisher

Grace Golda Renfrow Dettenmayer, Sept. 16, 1924 Wilson, NC-Dec. 5, 2003 St. Mary's, VA; Buried: Sunset Memorial Gardens, Four Mile Fork, Spotsylvania County, Virginia

George Richard Dettenmayer, WWII Veteran, 23 Aug 1921 Chicago, Cook County, Illinois-1 Feb 2018 Pittsboro, Chatham County, North Carolina; Cremated

Grace Golda Renfrow Dettenmayer (1924-2003) and George Richard Dettenmayer (1921-2018)

Grace Golda Renfrow was born on September 16, 1924, in Wilson, North Carolina, the daughter of James Robert and Effie Irene Stancil Renfrow. Growing up, Grace graduated from Glendale High School at the age of sixteen in 1940. Her ambition to become a beautician led her to Florida, where she lived with her Uncle Ralph and Aunt Ethel. While awaiting an opening in beauty school, Ethel encouraged her to enroll in secretarial courses offered through the WPA program at Camp Roosevelt. Grace’s natural friendliness blossomed in Ocala, where she quickly built a wide circle of acquaintances while riding to her morning classes with Ralph, who was studying welding.

Before long, Grace moved to Wilmington, North Carolina, to stay with her Uncle Emmette and Aunt Dessie, while their daughter Rose lived with Grace's parents to finish high school. In September 1942, Grace ventured to Washington, D.C., where by December, she secured a position working for General Marshall in his Private Record Room during his tenure as Chief of Staff. Grace embraced life in the capital, enjoying the vibrant atmosphere and the numerous soldiers, sailors, and marines she encountered. She also had the opportunity to see famous entertainers like Sammy Kaye, Horace Heidt, Jane Wyman, and Johnny Downs. A letter she wrote in December 1942 to Ethel Stancil revealed personal family news, including her mother's unexpected pregnancy.

Meanwhile, George Richard Dettenmayer was born on August 23, 1921, in Chicago, Illinois, the son of electrician George Charles Dettenmayer and housewife Olga Emily Wandner Dettenmayer. He had one brother, Edward.

Growing up in Chicago, George was a passionate Cubs fan and harbored dreams of playing professional baseball and flying airplanes. After high school, he played minor league baseball for the Baton Rouge Red Sticks.

However, with the onset of World War II, George volunteered for the Army Air Corp and was accepted into their rigorous pilot training program. He distinguished himself by completing 55 combat missions over German skies with the 8th Air Force, initially as a B-24 bomber pilot for 35 missions and then volunteering for an additional 20 missions as a P-51 fighter pilot, a rare commitment shared by only a few of his peers.

After the war, George returned to Chicago and was hired by American Airlines in their reservations department. It was there that his path intersected with Grace Golda Renfrow, as they were hired at the same time. Their connection blossomed, and George also introduced Grace’s roommate, Laverne, to his brother Edward, leading to a lasting marriage. George met Grace’s parents, Robert and Effie, who immediately took a liking to him. After receiving Robert’s blessing, George and Grace married on July 4, 1947, in a Chicago church, though Grace’s family was unable to attend due to the demands of tobacco harvesting. They honeymooned in the Wisconsin Dells.

Their first child, Gary Richard, was born on July 6, 1948, in East St. Louis, Illinois. Soon after, the family moved to Miami, Florida, where George attended the University of Miami while working part-time. He then became a pilot for American Airlines. Their second son, Lynn Allen, was born on October 31, 1951, in Memphis, Tennessee, followed by a move to Grapevine, Texas. In Grapevine, George also pursued a chicken farm business with his father and brother. To advance his career to captain, George relocated the family back to Chicago, where their third child, Heather Ann, was born on February 9, 1962.

George's growing interest in agriculture led to a transfer to Washington, D.C., and in 1963, the purchase of a 165-acre farm in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, which he named "Skyrider Ranch." The family built a home there, with George’s father handling the electrical work. Despite his city upbringing, George embraced farm life, raising Black Angus and Hereford cattle and cultivating various crops. Their children, Gary, Lynn, and Heather, grew up on the farm, learning to drive tractors. George enjoyed singing old songs, often accompanied by his children, and even had a player piano.

Tragedy struck in January 1972 when their son Gary, a musically and athletically talented young man, passed away unexpectedly while pursuing a nursing degree.

In July 1972, George and Grace celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with a large party at Skyrider Ranch, attended by family and friends. The farm became a welcoming place for gatherings, with Grace’s cooking and George’s hayrides and bonfires being highlights. Grace was known for her special crescent cookies, which she often brought to Stancil family reunions, where George enjoyed playing Hearts with relatives.

After a 31-year career, George retired from American Airlines at age 60 and built a 9-hole golf course on their farm, providing years of enjoyment for family and friends. In the late 1990s, seeking warmer winters, George and Grace moved to Sun City Center, Florida, where George joined a horseshoe team. They enjoyed being close to their son Lynn, his wife Pat, and their grandchildren, Meghan and Erik, who lived in Sarasota.

However, their Virginia farm held a special place in their hearts, and in 2002, George and Grace returned to build a new home on their beloved land. Sadly, just as they settled back into their familiar surroundings, Grace unexpectedly passed away from a heart attack on December 5, 2003. She was buried in Virginia.

Stancil Reunion Archive

George later moved to Pittsboro, North Carolina, in 2007, and then to an assisted living community in Cary in 2015. In 2008, Heather met Michael John Fisher, an executive VP of Sales for a furniture hardware and electric lift distributor in Pittsboro, NC. The two were married in 2013. Heather quit her job as a staff accountant in early 2015 to stay home and take care of George. She and Mike both shared in the responsibilities of caregiving for George.

He remained a devoted Cubs fan, overjoyed to witness their World Series victory in 2016 that ended the 108-year World Series Championship drought. George remarked that he was glad he lived long enough to see that! He and Cousin Glenn Schore always enjoyed talking about the Cubs and sharing stories. Both were “die hard” Cubs fans. Glenn regularly sent newspaper articles about the Cubs to George, which he appreciated very much.

George Richard Dettenmayer passed away at the age of 96 on February 1, 2018, leaving behind a legacy connected to aviation, agriculture, and a deep love for his family. He and Grace are remembered as the parents of Gary (deceased), Lynn, and Heather, and grandparents of Meghan and Erik.