Grace Scilipoti Rubsamen, 98, formerly of Raeford passed away peacefully in her home on Friday afternoon, with family member present for a last goodbye. She began her life in Mineola, Long Island, New York, and later moved with her parents (Michael Scilipoti and Lillian Crossen Scilipoti) to Towaco, New Jersey. She attended Boonton High School, where she met her high school sweetheart and future husband, Robert "Bob" Brownlee Rubsamen.
She studied art and fashion design at Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland, where she cultivated a talent as a cartoonist. She married Bob on February 19, 1937. In the early 1950's, the couple moved their young family to California, where Bob continued to pursue a successful career with General Motors. Grace worked as a Latin teacher, and later as a library assistant. Throughout her life, however, her passion remained for her art, and following Bob's retirement in 1979, the two moved to Mendocino, California, where they joined a thriving artists' community. Grace and Bob both dedicated much time and energy to the Mendocino Art Center, where Grace spent several happy years as director of the art gallery. Throughout, she continued her explorations in oil, acrylic, water color, and pastels, leaving a bounty of beautiful memories to be shared among family and friends.
After losing Bob to cancer in 1996, Grace moved to Raeford to be near her daughter, Christine, and family. She later relocated to Reno, Nevada, to be near her son, Richard, and his family, and settled in the Monaco Ridge assisted living facility, where she received loving care and continued painting until the last few months of her life.
Surviving are her children, Anne Rubsamen Miller and Thomas Miller of Federal Way Washington, Christine and James Wright of Raeford, and Richard and Jane Rubsamen of Incline Village, Nevada. She was the proud grandmother of nine grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, and four great-great grandchildren.
The family is planning a memorial service in Mendocino, California in September 2013.