Melinda Rennie Painter, 79, of Rural Retreat, VA, passed away Thursday, February 2, 2023. Born August 13, 1943 in Richmond, Virginia. She was the daughter of the late Edgar Warren Painter, born in Bland, VA and Carrie Rennie Rowe, born in St. Charles, MO.

Melinda was a Ph.D. (Abd) from North Carolina State University in Ergonomics and Industrial Engineering and had retired at age 55 from a career as a Senior Program Manager in Networking Products for IBM. She was an avid gardener, animal lover, fierce competitor in games of all sorts, and directly supported spay/neuter projects for stray and feral cats in the local community. She took great joy in her family and friends. She also supported many other philanthropic endeavors such as St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital and Shriners Children's Hospital. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death
by, two brothers, Edgar Warren "Warren" Painter, and Jefferson "Jeff" Rowe Painter.

Survivors include son Geoffrey Blake "Blake" Phillips and his wife Stephanie of Raleigh, NC along with their children Geoffrey Warren Phillips and Ryan Andrew Phillips (also of Raleigh, NC), daughter Catherine Rennie Phillips of Rural Retreat, VA, and son Con Andrew Phillips and his son Con Andrew "Andy" Phillips, Jr. both of Raleigh, NC, special cousins Sarah "Sally" Pleasants Daniel Ailsworth and husband, Tim of Richmond, VA, Jack C. Grubb and wife Lucy of Rural Retreat, as well as many other special cousins too numerous to mention.

She asked that no funeral or graveside services be conducted. Although she was the granddaughter of a Presbyterian Minister, Rev John Wilson Rowe of Valle Crucis, NC (deceased), she didn't want to be, "The center of attention," or "Everyone standing around and crying." There will be a private interment of ashes in Mountain View Cemetery in Rural Retreat, VA between the graves of her mother and father. The family will be contacting close friends and family at a later date for a remembrance ceremony.

The family requests, in lieu of flowers, that donations be made to the Community Cats Rescue Network (CCRN) at 305 McGavock Ln, Max Meadows, VA 24360, local animal shelters or other charities.

Lindsey Funeral Home of Rural Retreat, VA is serving the Painter/Phillips family.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.highlandfuneralservice.com.