Victoria Savage, 87, of Shepherdstown, passed away at home on Feb. 8, 2012, in the presence of her family, under the care of Hospice of the Panhandle.

Born Mar. 12, 1924, in New York City, she was the daughter of the late Morris and Mary Welcher Peterson.

She is survived by her husband of 64 years, John A. Savage, of Shepherdstown. She is also survived by daughter, Susan Savage MacDonald and her husband, Randolph (Randy), of Shepherdstown; daughter Janet A. Savage and her husband, Edward J. Godin, of Centennial, Colo.; son Robert J. Savage and his wife, Ann, of Shepherdstown; and grandchildren Caitlin (McIntyre) Gosnell and husband Brandon; Jessica, John and Daniel Godin; and Caroline and William Savage. She was preceded in death by her sister, Charlotte Levine.

Mrs. Savage was a 1950 graduate of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (B.A.), and received her M.A. in 1970 from Queens College, N.Y. She taught in elementary schools in Livonia (Mich.), Ithaca and Bethpage (N.Y.), and spent the last 27 years of her career teaching 3rd and 4th grade in the Commack Public Schools on Long Island, N.Y.

During World War II, she served as a Medical Technician in the Women’s Army Corps (WACs).

For the past 23 years, she was an active volunteer with many community organizations in Jefferson County, including the Good Shepherd Caregivers, Shepherdstown Public Library, Friends of the Shepherdstown Library (FOSL), Jefferson County Public Schools (where she coordinated the PASS program), Meals On Wheels and Literacy Volunteers of the Eastern Panhandle. She volunteered also for many years in the library of the National Conservation Training Center (NCTC).

Hundreds of people who drove down Shepherd Grade Road over the last two decades would see her on her daily morning walks.

In her 50s and 60s, she was an avid bicyclist, spending many summers touring the back roads of Europe with her husband and climbing the mountain passes of Colorado with her bicycling family. She was also a long-distance runner, competing in the New York City Marathon and numerous other races, usually winning in her age group.

Mrs. Savage was a voracious reader with a keen interest in political and social history, and had many other interests. Foremost, though, was her devotion to her family and to the common good.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012 at 1 p.m., at Grace Episcopal Church, 159 East Street, Middleway, with The Rev. Susan Savage MacDonald officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Good Shepherd Caregivers or Hospice of the Panhandle.

Please sign the online guestbook and view obituary at www.mtstrider.com.