Virginia L. Paxton (Bolivar)'s Obituary
Virginia Leigh (Harrison) Paxton, age 89 of Bolivar, Missouri passed away on Monday, September 6, 2010 at Parkview Healthcare Facility in Bolivar, Missouri.
Virginia (Harrison) Paxton was born in Wisconsin as the first of five children born to Audie and W.T. Harrison on Jan. 25, 1921. As a young child she moved to Minnesota, and then Oklahoma. Her father bought a farm in Hickory County, MO., during the 1930’s, and relocated his family after seeing an ad in an agricultural magazine.
Virginia attended a revival with her two sisters, Anna Lou, and Charlotte, at the Macedonia Baptist Church, not far from the Harrison family farm. She accepted Christ into her life as her personal Savior.
Virginia graduated from Wheatland High School in 1939, and went on to also graduate from beauty college in Lebanon, Mo. She opened her own shop on the historic Wheatland Square at nineteen years of age.
About the same time Leonard Jinkens Paxton came to visit his Aunt Verdie and Uncle John Costelow who lived next to the Harrison’s farm. He began writing letters from East Highlands, CA., and then returned to marry Virginia on Dec. 4, 1940. Virginia gave birth to their only daughter, Evelyn (Evie) L. Jones, two years later in Redlands, CA. At the conclusion of WWII, Leonard returned with Virginia and their daughter to live in California for many years.
Virginia was a dedicated homemaker who loved to cook, bake, sew, and serve others. She loved to sing in various church choirs, and was an excellent soprano with an ability to reach all of the high notes. She is now singing in a heavenly choir, and no longer suffering a lengthy and debilitating illness. Her family will greatly miss her, but are thankful for the time they shared together.
Virginia is survived by her husband, Leonard J. Paxton of the home, a daughter, Evie L. Jones and her husband T.W. of Atlanta, Georgia, two sisters, Anna Lou Gardner of Mountain Home, Idaho, Charlotte Garrett and her husband Chuck of Boise, Idaho, two brothers, William Harrison and his wife Celine of Aurora, Colorado, Ralph Harrison and his wife Connie also of Aurora, two grandsons, Jeremy V. Jones and his wife Janna of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Jason W. Jones of Managua, Nicaragua, one great granddaughter, Aspen Sophia Jones, and one great grandson, Paxton Kai Jones of Colorado Springs.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00pm, Saturday, September 11, 2010 at the Butler Funeral Home in Bolivar, Missouri, with Dr. Bill Hooper officiating. Music will be “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” sung by Katherine Dodson accompanied by Evie Jones. Burial will follow at Macedonia Cemetery, North of Wheatland, Missouri under the care and direction of the Butler Funeral Home. A visitation will be held from 1:00-2:00pm, Saturday, at the funeral home chapel prior to service time. Pallbearers will be Jason W. Jones, Jeremy V. Jones, T.W. Jones, Larry Dodson, Ralph Harrison, and Bill Harrison.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be given to the Gideons, Samaritan’s Purse headquartered in Boone, N.C., or the Eagle Ranch for Boys and Girls located in Chestnut Mtn., Ga.
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