Virginia Latimer (Hartville)'s Obituary
Virginia Mae (O’Dell) Latimer was the youngest of four girls born to Linzie and Elsie Mae (Hake) O’Dell. She was raised in the Little Creek community and went to Little Creek School, later graduating from Hartville High School in the class of 1940. After high school she worked in the superintendent’s office. She took summer classes at the State Teachers College in Springfield and taught for two years at the Fairview Country School. She also worked for the selective services at the Wright County Circuit Clerks office. Moving to Jefferson City she worked a state job at the prison. Later she worked in St. Louis for the Reconstruction Finance Corp. where the surplus materials from the war days were being disposed of. Virginia was working in St. Louis when James came home from serving in the Marine Corps.
James and Virginia were married in Grovespring at the home of Reverend Jordan Bogart on January 21, 1946. They enjoyed seventy-one years together until James passed on February 22, 2017. During this time two children were born, Larue and Janet.
Virginia worked side by side with James milking Jersey cows and raising calves, as well as raising pigs and chickens. Their first TV set was bought with money from selling turkeys that Virginia raised.
When James went to work at the Wright County Bank they moved and made their new home on Loring Road. Virginia continued to milk a small string of Jerseys and raised calves along with help from her kids.
She always had a big garden and there was never a working man at their place that went hungry even if she had to take it to them in the field.
Virginia and James loved having family and friends over for quail dinners or fish fires. She was a great cook even teaching 4-H cooking classes, judging entries at the Wright County Jr. Fair for years.
Virginia was servant hearted and always looked after aging neighbors and volunteered for many community projects. She served as vice-president of the Gasconade Neighbors housing board, always checking on residents and helping arrange parties for special occasions and birthdays of those living there.
She and James were long time members of the Hartville United Methodist Church serving as clerk for many years. The love of Christ showed in her life through her love for others.
Virginia is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, James; three sisters, Golda Blackwell, Doris Cogdill, and Eloise Russell and their spouses; three nephews, Knial Cogdill, Keven Cogdill, and Mark Russell; and a niece, Patrice Russell.
Virginia is survived by her children, Larue Latimer and his wife Pam, of Hartville and Janet Carriger and her husband Earl, of Grovespring; two grandchildren, Sherry Dryer and her husband Daron and Gina Freeman and her husband Jim; four great-grandchildren, Sydne Dryer, Mitch Freeman and his wife Carin, Madison Robinson and her husband Dylan, and Julia Dryer; a very special great-great granddaughter, Haylee Mae Freeman; a special nephew that was raised in her parents home, Bobby O’Dell; two step-grandchildren, David Dennis and his wife Melany and Marianne Taylor; three step-great-grandchildren, McKenzie Gore and her husband Daniel, Cameron Dennis, and John Dennis; many, many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many caring friends.
Special thanks to those who cared for Virginia and James in their home at the Hartville Care Center.
Virginia will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Memorials to Steele Memorial Cemetery or Wright County Children's Home, may be left at the funeral home.
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