Maxine Dellinger, 83, died at her home Nov. 25 after a years-long battle with ALS. She was born in Dearborn, Mich., and grew up in Louisville, Ky., where she and her mother developed a love for the Kentucky Derby. She graduated from the University of Kentucky (first in her family to graduate from college) with a degree in journalism, which she put to work first at the Kingsport Times News and then at The Roanoke Times. She was public relations director for Radford University, a substitute teacher, a case manager aiding women in crisis at the Family Resource Center and with the Mount Rogers Community Services Board, and ombudsman with the District 3 Governmental Cooperative. She was on the Virginia Lutheran Homes Inc. Board of Trustees, the Virginia PTA state board, president of the Wytheville Junior Woman’s Club, and a life-long Lutheran who was on the state board of Virginia Lutheran Church Women, a lay liturgist with Lutheran Mountain Ministries and a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. She and her close friend, the late Kathy Pressing, co-authored a small privately-printed book, “Horse Tales,” about their trail-riding adventures.

As they say, she never met a stranger as she greeted everyone with enthusiasm. She helped care for friends dealing with illnesses in her home, including her mother-in-law, for more than a decade, enriching the lives of her children with a multi-generation experience. She had many passions which she shared with family and friends, including her enjoyment of horses, sports, volunteer activities and travel adventures, and her pride in her father’s and sister’s time in the military and her mother’s career in nursing. She faced her struggles with ALS with courage, humor and composure as a final life lesson and inspiration to those who were closest to her.

Surviving is her husband, Paul; two children, Mark Dellinger (wife Cindy); Katie Koppelman (husband David) and their daughters, Grace and Emma, and a sister, Linda Lacy.

A service will be held Dec. 20 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, with visitation at 1 p.m. and the service at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the ALS Association, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Friends of the Wythe County Library (of which she was a life member), the Copper Crest Riding Therapy Program, or whatever charity you choose. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.grubbfuneralhome.com

Grubb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.