Virginia Maria Gould Reynaud, MD

Virginia Marie Gould Reynaud MD of Highlands, NC died peacefully in her sleep on December 16, 2020 after being sharp as a tack for 99 years.  Virginia was born in Rochester, NY on November 16, 1921 to Patrick Stephen Gould and Frances Fien.  She graduated from Nazareth College where she was valedictorian and the May Queen. She enlisted in the Navy in 1943 and was a WAVE until 1946 where she attained the rank of Lt. JG.  She was a radar specialist and also helped serve on the Manhattan Project.  After the war she was one of a handful of women who attended the University of Maryland Medical School. There she met her future husband across her cadaver, Louis Favrot Reynaud.  Virginia was always the smartest person in every room and was a women’s libber before the term was invented.

After their wedding, Louis and Virginia moved to Atlanta where they practiced Pediatrics together for 40 years.  Along with working full time, Virginia raised three children and always read at least two books a week. Her books were not the top best sellers; they were more like The History of the Byzantine Empire and other light reads.

When the Reynauds retired to Highlands, Virginia had a chance to do all of the civic minded activities that she never had time for while practicing medicine.  She was president of the Garden Club, on the board of the Watershed advisory, a trustee of the Biological Station, on the board of Reach, etc.  She and Louis hiked daily and in her spare time she created a wildflower garden that many made a special trip to see.  

She is survived by her three children, Louis (and Kelly), Christine Dunn (and John) and Suzanne King (and Thad), seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

Virginia was one of those special people who didn’t act like she was any smarter or better than anyone else. If a problem needed to be solved, she just got to work, figured out a solution and got it done. She was the person who always told you that you could do anything if you just put your mind to it.  Louis was the love of her life and they had 67 incredible years together.  She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Bryant-Grant Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Reynaud family.

Online condolences can be made at www.bryantgrantfuneralhome.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Virginia Maria Gould Reynaud, MD, please visit our floral store.