Susan Gaye Fitzgerald Fincke, age 69, a resident of Chocowinity, passed away Thursday, August 25, 2016, at Vidant Beaufort Hospital in Washington.

A funeral service will be held 2:00pm Thursday, September 1, 2016 at the First United Methodist Church in Washington and will be officiated by Reverend Scott Wilkinson.

Mrs. Fincke was born October 10, 1946 in Martin, Tennessee to the late Meredith Kathryn Berryhill Fitzgerald and William Taylor Fitzgerald of Beaumont, Texas. She graduated from Lamar University in Beaumont, TX in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. On June 15, 1968 she married Dale Eugene Fincke. She and her family lived and travelled extensively in the United States and Europe while her husband was in the US Army for 27 years. During that time, she supported and led numerous international and military social, charitable and family support organizations and activities. Mrs. Fincke worked in the medical field and was a teacher of biology and chemistry in High Schools. Upon her husband’s retirement from the Army, they moved to Washington, D.C., where she became a Historical Interpreter and, subsequently, the Director of Historical Interpretation at George Washington’s home – Mount Vernon. They built their home in Chocowinity in 2000 and moved there permanently in 2010. Throughout her life she enjoyed visiting historical places, the beach, swimming, golfing and spending time with her family and friends. She was a voracious reader and excelled in cooking international cuisines. She neither asked for nor sought recognition for her many acts of charity, benevolence and kindness. She made the world a better place for those that had the good fortune to know her.

Survivors include, her husband of 48 years, Dale Eugene Fincke, two sons, Dale Eugene Fincke Jr. and wife Jana of Amarillo, TX, Christopher Stephen Fincke of Seoul, South Korea, two grandchildren, Carla Christine and Christopher Nicholas Fincke, three sisters, Pamela Pearson and husband Bill of Kountz, TX, Nancy Fitzgerald and her husband Randy Robinson of Houston, TX, Kathy Turner and husband David of San Antonio, TX, and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Marion L. Shepard Cancer Center, 1209 Brown Street, Washington, NC 27889.

The family will receive friends Wednesday, August 31, 2016 from 5:00pm until 7:00pm at Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington.

Condolences may be addressed to the family online by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.

Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Fincke family.