NEWPORT NEWS— Dell Rogers Laws, 89, died on June 21, 2008, at Landis Homes, a retirement community in Lititz, Pa.

She was a native of Fines Creek, N.C., a Newport News resident for more than 60 years and had lived in Lititz

since 2002.

Mrs. Laws was the daughter of Virgie (Rogers) Rogers and Taylor Harrison Rogers and was the eighth of their 15 children.

She was married for 52 years to the late Russell Paul Laws, originally of Farmington, Mo.

She was a faithful member of Noland Memorial United Methodist Church in Newport News, where she served in several capacities in her Sunday School class and in her Circle, as well as a dedicated member of the church choir.

She also volunteered in the public schools and in several community organizations.

She loved nature, especially birds and flowers. She also loved music, clogging and being in the Red Hat Society. She loved to travel, making several cross-country trips as well as trips to Canada, Hawaii and Europe.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her son, Joel Wayne Laws.

Survivors include

four children, R. Paul Laws Jr. and wife Sherry of Smithfield, Martha Nowygrod and husband Roman of Bergenfield, N.J., Deborah Laws-Landis and husband Carl of Akron, Pa., and Philip J. Laws of Newport News; eight grandchildren, Eric Laws, Anita Bloxom, Emily Cohen, Lizzy Glidden, Adrienne Landis, Jill Laws, Jeff Laws, and Joanna Landis; two sisters, Irene Franks and Geraldine Batchelor, both of Newport News; and one brother, Doyce Rogers of Waynesville, N.C.

A funeral

was held Wednesday at Peninsula Funeral Home, with Dr. Charles K. Root officiating. Interment followed in Peninsula Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to the Caring Fund at Landis Homes, 1001 East Oregon Road, Lititz, PA 17543, or to Noland Memorial United Methodist Church, 5501 Huntington Avenue, Newport News, VA 23607.