Natalie Bates Grace of Severna Park, MD the past 55 years, passed away on Sept. 15, 2017. She is survived by her sisters Barbara Guinee of Annapolis and Helen "Holly" Dodge of Washington, D.C., her children Barbara (Skinner) Grace of Fulton, NY, Richard Grace, Jr. of Fairfax Station, VA., Steven Grace of Stevensville, MD. and her three grandchildren Natalie Grace-Hansen, Nicole Grace and Richard Grace, III.

Natalie was born in Canton, Ohio in 1927, moved to Hudson, Ohio but settled in Easton, MD. There she enjoyed all that goes with growing up on the Eastern Shore of MD. She and her sister Holly attended the National Cathedral School in Washington, D.C. for high school and then Natalie attended UNC at Greensboro (Women's College) where she earned her degree in Social Recreation.

During WWII Natalie worked cleaning airplane engines in Rome, NY but returned to Easton, MD to care for her mother. On September 7, 1951 she married her childhood sweetheart Richard C. Grace, Sr. of Easton MD. She worked in Philadelphia, PA and New Brunswick, NJ as a social worker while her three children were young. When the family moved to Severna Park, MD. in 1962 Natalie began a 32 year career with Anne Arundel County Schools where she taught Physical Education. Natalie worked in several schools but Cape St. Claire Elementary was her favorite. She enjoyed great notoriety for her work and loved the interaction with the children and members of the faculty. She retired in 1988.

During retirement she was active with Meals on Wheels and Partners in Care in the greater Severna Park, Annapolis area. Her greatest love however was her garden. You could always find Natalie in her backyard which was affectionately referred to as the "south 40". She also enjoyed traveling and spending times with her sisters for birthdays and special events. In 2015 Natalie moved into Sunrise Senior Center in Severna Park until 2017. She lived with her daughter in Baldwinsville, NY for the final months of her life.

A Memorial visitation will held on Friday November 10, 2017 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. with a Memorial service starting at 4:00 p.m. in the Barranco & Sons, P.A. Severna park Funeral Home 495 Ritchie Hwy. Severna Park, MD 21146.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Meals on Wheels or Partners in Care of Severna Park. Please bring all the fun stories you can remember about Natalie as we celebrate her life.