Diana Carol Gorman Stewart, of Christiansburg, VA, died Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018.
She was born in 1944 to Douglas and Veta Gorman. Douglas was from Indiana and Veta was from North Carolina, and Diana Carol was named for their home states. Diana grew up in Southern Pines, NC, raised by her mother and grandmother. Her father was killed in action in Normandy.
Diana married Jim Stewart in 1965. They met when Jim was Diana’s waiter at a restaurant. During their first date, they discovered their birthdays were two days apart, and from that moment on decided to celebrate “their” birthday on January 3.
Diana earned her bachelor’s degree at Woman’s College, now the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Later she completed her master’s degree at Radford University.
Diana was an elementary school teacher, finishing her career in Montgomery County Public Schools as a reading teacher. She was dedicated to helping children learn to read.
No child went without a hug when around Mrs. Stewart. She loved just about everything and everyone, and was rarely without a big smile on her face and a song ready to be sung. Christmas was her favorite time of year. She spent her last days on Earth surrounded by her family, with snow outside the window and a Christmas tree next to her bed. Christmas carolers sang outside her door the day she passed away.
Diana is survived by her beloved husband, Jim Stewart; her son Court Stewart; her son Jamie Stewart; her daughter Beth and son-in-law Robert Johnson; her granddaughter Julia; and her companion dog Daisy.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, January 3, 2019 at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Christiansburg. Visitation will be held from noon until 2 p.m. that day, also at the church.
