Linda Seeley Huber Wetmore

Wetmore, Mrs. Linda Seeley Huber, of Glen Allen, co-founder of Fox-Huber Co. temporary secretarial firm, wife of Douglas Wetmore.

Published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch (VA) - May 29, 2005, page B-9

During the 1970s, women entering the workplace fought to earn salaries equal to those 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 months, 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 of 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.

Published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch (VA) - June 2, 2005, page B-7

[Great-great-granddaughter of SGS # 3948 - Linda S.; Ralph Evans; Warren Lamont; Clifton Herrick; Herrick Bromley (# 3948); Thaddeus O’Conner (# 1773); Thaddeus; John; Ebenezer, Jonas; Obadiah]