Helen Grizzard "Bunny" Noles

July 10, 1946 - October 15, 2021

Helen Grizzard “Bunny” Noles died October 15, 2021 at the age of 75. She was preceded in death by her parents, Taylor Land Grizzard and Thelma Anderson Grizzard of Richmond, Virginia. She was born in Radford, Virginia while her father was attending VPI (now known as Virginia Tech) after his return from WW 2. She is survived by her husband, Johnnie Noles, her brother Kenneth Grizzard (Karen) and her sister Nancy Melkerson (Nils). She is also survived by an aunt, uncle, several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Helen graduated from George Wythe High School in Richmond and attended Shorter College in Rome, Georgia. She later graduated from VCU as part of the first graduating class of that university after RPI and MCV merged. She taught school in Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Hampton for more than thirty years. She declared it was time to retire when her former first graders started bringing their own children for her to teach. She was active as a volunteer with Merrimac Dog Training Club (MDTC) as a training instructor. She was honored by being made a Lifetime Member of that club. She was also a volunteer with SEVA GRREAT, a Golden Retriever rescue organization. Perhaps her greatest joy came from the time she spent working with her dogs as a volunteer for Therapy Dogs International (TDI). She and her dogs especially enjoyed their visits to schools where the elementary school children read to her dogs. She was an evaluator for Therapy Dogs International and encouraged other people to participate in the program. Our family would like to thank Dr. Kathy Carbone for her medical advice throughout Helen’s illness and Dr. Kevin Sanders for his surgical skills. We would also like to thank the staff at Walter Reed Convalescent Center for the care and compassion they showed Helen in the last few weeks. We would especially like to thank Hannah and Lauren for their help and both Amy’s for Helen’s therapy. Helen did not want her picture added to an obituary and she did not want a memorial service. We will respect both her wishes and hope that good memories of her life live on with those of us who knew her.