Sussex County-Richmond City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Wetmore, Linda A. Seeley, 2005 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ LINDA ANN SEELEY HUBER WETMORE LINDA SEELEY HUBER WETMORE DIES AT 60 During the 1970s, women entering the workplace fought to earn salaries equal to thos of their male counterparts. But friends Linda Seeley Huber Wetmore and Judith Fox decided that working for someone else wasn't the answer. Instead, they mortgaged their homes, raised $15,000 and started a temporary secretarial firm. Fox-Huber Co. opened in 1978 in a small office on North Thompson Street. Within three mounts, the company was in the black. Nine years later, the firm landed on Inc. magazine's list of the 500 fastest-growing companies in the country. By 1988, when Mrs. Wetmore sold her share of the company to Fox, it was among the largest temporary firms in Virginia. Fox-Huber also had an office in New York City. "When we started our company, we were the only independent [temporary staffing] company in the area," Judith Fox said. "Our competition was national firms like Kelly and Manpower. I think we were both very pleased with what we accomplished." Mrs. Wetmore died on pancreatic cancer Friday at her Glen Allen home. She was 60. A memorial service will be held Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the West Chapel of Bennett Funeral Home, 11020 W. Broad St. A funeral will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at Wakefield United Methodist Church, 205 W. Church St., in Wakefield. Mrs. Wetmore, a native of Wakefield, grew up on a peanut farm, said her husband, Douglas Wetmore. She attended Lynchburg College for two years, then moved to Australia in 1964. Two years later, Mrs. Wetmore returned to America and settled in Richmond. She completed her bachelor's degree at the University of Richmond in 1969. She was working in an office on Main Street when she met her future business partner. They were friends for years before founding Fox-Huber Co., Fox said. "She was such a vital person," Fox said. "Starting and growing a new business certainly had its moments, but we found the humor in almost everything. Linda had a wonderful sense of fun and knew how to diffuse a difficult situation with her quick wit." After leaving Fox-Huber, Mrs. Wetmore devoted herself to painting watercolors and volunteering with the Greater Richmond Chapter of the American Red Cross. This year, Mrs. Wetmore would have earned a pin for 20 years of service with the Red Cross. A former board member, she was known as a tireless volunteer. "Linda cared very much about every person’s life she touched," said Fred Kraegel, a former Red cross Board Chairman. "Anything she could do to help, she wanted to help." In addition to her husband, Mrs. Wetmore's survivors include a sister, Barbara Jean Pond of Sedley; and two brothers, Ralph Seeley, Jr. and Wayne Seeley, both of Wakefield. ****************************************************************************** LINDA ANN SEELEY HUBER WETMORE Linda Seeley Huber Wetmore passed away on May 27, 2005. Linda was born in 1944 in Wakefield, Va., to Lucille and Ralph Seeley, and raised on a peanut farm. She lived in Melbourne, Australia for two years in the mid-1960s, then moved to Richmond, where she graduated from the University of Richmond in 1969. In 1978, she cofounded the Fox-Huber Company which had offices in both Richmond and New York City. Under her leadership, Fox-Huber grew into one of the largest temporary secretarial firms in Virginia. Linda served as chairman of the board of associates at the University of Richmond, as well as on the board of the Richmond American Red Cross for 20 years. She was the first woman Rotarian in Richmond. Linda was also an active watercolor artist and committed patron and student of the arts. Her work was enjoyed in Richmond and Sanibel Island, Florida. Linda was preceded in death by her parents; and is survived by her husband, Doug; as well as a sister, Barbara Jean Pond of Sudley, Va.; and brother, Ralph Jr. and Wayne Seeley, both Wakefield residents. She also had many loving nieces, nephews, stepchildren, and grandchildren, and friends too many to name. Friends, Katy and Gregor Huber from Claremont, Va., were very dear to Linda's heart. She also leaves behind her beloved cat, Woogie. The family is most thankful for the loving service provided by all the doctors, nurses, and staff at Henrico Doctor's Hospital, as well as the nurses and staff with Bon Secours Hospice. A gathering of family and friends will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 2, at the West Chapel of Bennett Funeral Home, 11020 West Broad St., and a funeral service will be held at the Wakefield Methodist Church in Wakefield, Va., at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 4, 2005, with a reception immediately follow. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Richmond Chapter of the American Red Cross or to the University of Richmond. Linda Ann (SEELEY HUBER; Mrs. Douglas) WETMORE, retired businesswoman, artist, b. 3 Sep 1944, Wakefield, d. 4 May 2005, at home, Glen Allen, interred in Wakefield Cemetery*, 4 Jun 2005, "Richmond (VA) Times-Dispatch," June 1, 2005, p. B-7; "Richmond (VA) Times-Dispatch," June 1, 2005 *Her parents are also buried there. Wakefield list, an extension of the Southampton County Historical Society {SCHS} Cemetery Project: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/sussex/cemeteries/wakefd.txt Her father's obit (Purviance Funeral Home, 1990) is posted at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/sussex/obits/s400r1ob.txt Her mother's obit (Purviance Funeral Home, 1996) is posted at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/sussex/obits/s400l2ob.txt Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Mrs. Bruce Saunders (bs4403@verizon.net), and re-formatted by File Manager. file at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/sussex/obits/w356l1ob.txt