Foul play has been ruled out as the cause of death of a 48-year-old Anne Arundel County woman, whose body was found Friday in her fourth-floor office at the Department of Commerce in Washington, Washington police said yesterday.
The body of Barbara Alice Wise of the 900 block of Fall Circle Way in Gambrills was found about 7: 45 a.m. by a co-worker.
Neighbors said yesterday that Wise had been in and out of hospitals throughout the past year for blood transfusions for a liver ailment. Washington Police homicide detectives said yesterday Wise appeared to have died from natural causes.
Neighbors described Wise as a quiet woman who kept to herself, working long hours.
"She loved animals, and she loved children, but work was her life," said Geraldine Shenton, who has lived next door for 20 years. "She was very closed-mouth with her own, personal life. It's just very sad someone as young as her lost their life."
Wise had worked as a secretary for about 14 years for the Commerce Department's International Trade Administration. She specialized in trade development, working in the unit that provided analysis of industries designed to boost export sales.
Pub Date: 12/01/96