Walter and Marie Hussey’s habits of scrutinizing, planning, organizing, and
making better things happen continued to flourish when they retired. Lifetime
careers had been dedicated to intense involvement and responsibilities as civilian
employees of the United States Navy. She a chemist-turned environmentalist,
he a self-professed geek engineer in nuclear submarines and NASA, their paths
had fortuitously converged late in their lives when they discovered the precious
rarity of true soulmates. Their joy in being together for the next 25 years was
interspersed with painful times requiring mutual strength when dealing with
cancer. But their lives continued to be invigorated by their involvement with
the Fluvanna Chapter of Extension Master Gardeners, the Rivanna Master
Naturalists, and a nearly 1,000-acre park in rural Virginia. Shortly after relocating,
it didn’t take long for them to envision physical and educational embellishments
that could make the park even so much better than it already was. Then they just
naturally stepped in to bring new concepts about. This is the story of Walter and
Marie creating a legacy within the historic setting of Fluvanna County’s Pleasant
Grove Park.