Rebecca Marie (Zinn) Liskey
Rebecca Marie (Zinn) Liskey, 83, departed life on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024, at Bridgewater Home, where she has resided since 2022.
Becky was born Jan. 19, 1941, in Plymouth, Indiana to the late Reverend Philip N. Zinn and Margaret R. (Sellers) Zinn. She is survived by her husband Wayne, her son Jeff and wife Margaret, her granddaughter Amber and husband Mady, and her great granddaughter, a sister Martha Zinn and partner Robin of Ohio, brothers Dan Zinn, and wife Anne of Massachusetts, John Zinn and wife Sandy of New Mexico, and Tim Zinn and wife Sara of Texas. She is also survived by many wonderful nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her sister Noelle Neff Webb, brother-in-law Jay Webb of Bridgewater, brother-in-law, Pete Hill of Ohio, and niece, Daniela Margaret Zinn of Massachusetts.
While growing up, her family moved around the country and lived for periods of time in Illinois, California, North Carolina, and Virginia. She graduated from High School in Wilkesboro, NC in 1958, then attended Bridgewater College from 1958-62, earning a B.A. degree in French; the language and culture that became her passion. Later, Becky earned her master's degree in French from the University of Missouri.
In the summer of 1962, while working a summer job at the hotel La Pierre in Ocean Grove, New Jersey, she met her future husband, Wayne Liskey. They married Oct. 1963 and in 1964 their son was born.
Becky and family settled in Harrisonburg, VA, where she taught High School French for 31 years. She enjoyed international travel, including trips to Canada, England, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, and Italy. She took nine trips to France, six of these trips were to take her high school French students during summer breaks. After retirement, Becky and Wayne fulfilled a long-held dream to be able to take a trip together to Paris. Her final overseas trip was in January 2022 to visit her beloved granddaughter and husband in Dakar, Senegal.
After she retired in 1998, Becky focused on community service and volunteered as an English language tutor for newly arrived international immigrants that were settling in the Harrisonburg area.
In her golden years, she and Wayne enjoyed traveling together to attend art shows, concerts, and Broadway/Off-Broadways shows. While at home, she especially enjoyed and cherished visits from her family and neighborhood friends.
Becky had a pure joy for learning, a philosophical mind for questioning, and abundant optimism in life that was appreciated by all who knew and loved her.
A memorial service is planned for Dec.7, 2024 at 1 p.m.in Lantz Chapel at the Bridgewater Retirement Community.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to BRC Foundation, 302 N. Second Street, Bridgewater, Va. 22812. (www.brcliving.org).
Favorite memories and online condolences may be sent to the family at www.johnsonfs.com
