WARSAW — Mollie Bullock Lovejoy of Warsaw, formerly of Smithfield and Charlottesville, passed away peacefully on Feb. 5, 2019 at 71 years of age.

Mollie was the daughter of the late James L. Bullock and Alice Moore Bullock of Smithfield.  She is survived by her daughters, Amy Lindsay (Aaron) of Richmond, and Jennifer McDougle (Justin) of New London, Wis.; four grandchildren, Jessica, Abigail, Connor and Camden; sisters, Elizabeth Holleman and Jamie Karabiac; brother Dennis Bullock; nieces, nephews and dear friends.  She was preceded in death by her brothers, James and William Bullock.

Mollie had a love for fun, people and was very civic-minded all while having a successful professional career in the assisted living industry; helping to create the industry as we know it today in Virginia. 

While residing in Charlottesville when her daughters were growing up, Mollie operated a small private daycare in her home and her civic participation began as she served as President of the PTA of her daughters’ elementary school.  As her daughters entered high school, Mollie became active with the area high school foreign exchange student program, hosting many exchange students in their home.  Many of the families Mollie met through these endeavors became lifelong friends.

Mollie found her passion caring for Virginia seniors as a licensed nursing home                administrator with American Retirement Homes Inc.  For many years, she was the administrator of Riverdale Assisted Living in Charlottesville and president of the Virginia Association for Home for Adults. During her tenure as VAHA president, Mollie had the opportunity to make ground-breaking industry change as she helped to develop the first medication aide and direct care staff curriculums in the state.  Mollie never missed an opportunity to attend the General Assembly in Richmond to advocate and champion change on behalf of the assisted living industry.  Later in her career, Mollie relocated to Warsaw where she was able to devote more time training and mentoring many of today’s industry leaders. Virginia’s assisted living industry is what it is today in part to Mollie’s dedication and passion to. 

Mollie was recognized with an Award of Dedication and Appreciation for 30-plus years of service from American Retirement Homes Inc., and an award for Contributions to the Industry from the Virginia Assisted Living Association upon her formal retirement from the industry.  

Most recently, Mollie continued her love of helping people in her local community of Warsaw where she saw an opportunity to grow and help others.  She was a founding member of the Warsaw/Richmond County TRIAD and served as chair, and she was also an active member of the Warsaw Rotary Club where, in true Mollie fashion, she served in several capacities on the Board throughout her tenure.  As chairwoman of TRIAD she was responsible for procuring many local businessmen and women as well as prominent state officials as speakers for the local TRIAD meetings.  Mollie’s civic participation garnered her recognition as Outstanding Chair during a state Triad Conference and an Excellence in Service award by the Warsaw Rotary Club.

Throughout her life, Mollie enjoyed friends, family, a great movie or late night TV show, a good jigsaw or word puzzle, but most of all she loved and enjoyed spending time with and talking about her grandchildren. If you met Mollie you would never forget her!

A memorial celebration of Mollie’s life will be held Saturday, March 2, 2019 at 11:30 a.m. at River Meadows located at 42 Mitchell Ave. in Warsaw.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation to your local chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association in Mollie’s honor. www.alz.org