Virginia Sullivan's Obituary
Virginia Kathryn Sullivan, “Ginnie” was born in Kansas City, Kansas on March 16th, 1916 to Harry and Minta Sullivan. To this union were born nine children. Virginia was preceded in death by Mary Ellen “Becky”, Delbert Lowry “Buddy”, Harry Clement “Barney”, Eddie Ervin “Red”, Vincent Thorban “Mex”, and Gene Ray. She is survived by her sisters Bertha Evelyn Bohrn and Minta Jane “Percy” Miller, many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews. Even though she was “almost” born on St. Patrick’s Day, Virginia was very much an Irish woman. She took on a lot of responsibilities at a young age to help with the care of her younger siblings. Her family moved to Sedalia, Missouri during her early childhood and they made their family home there. With all of her responsibilities at home and her austere upbringing, Virginia learned the importance of hard work and self-sufficiency. She graduated from Smith Cotton High School in Sedalia. Virginia loved reading, math and school in general. She said “books took me to all the places I couldn’t go at the time.” These first experiences with books and school lead to her later career as an accountant and her lifelong love of travel. She attended college at Nazarene College in Hutchinson, Kansas and Pittsburg State in Kansas where she earned her teaching certification. After teaching for a short time, she realized it wasn’t the right fit for her so she began her career in accounting. She worked nearly twenty years for Town and Country Shoes in Sedalia, Missouri, as an accountant before she decided to move to New York City. There she took a position with Bigelow Sanford Carpet Company. She enjoyed her twenty years in the big city and told stories to some of her family about “walking to the corner deli from her walkup apartment in her bathrobe and slippers to get a can of beer, talking to the neighbors and friends she would see on the way.” Throughout her career she took an active role in professional organizations including BPW, Business and Professional Women’s League. Virginia always relished the relationships she built with her co-workers. Once she made a friend, they could count on her forever. Virginia never married, but she had a large, loving family. Since she retired to Southwest Missouri she adopted the children and grandchildren of Max and Percy Miller as her own. Even though she made her home in downtown Springfield, she spent much of her time at the Miller home, helping Percy and Max and their children in any way she could lend a hand. Virginia was loyal to her family and worked tirelessly when she felt she could be of assistance in any situation. She loved to be outdoors – gardening, enjoying nature, walking around town, and playing with her nieces and nephews. She spent many weekends babysitting and helping her nieces and nephews with their children as if they were her grandchildren. Many of her great nieces and nephews felt blessed to have what seemed like another grandmother. Virginia traveled all over the world with her sister, Percy, traveling all over the United States as well as other countries. She commented that “Percy was a part of every good memory I ever had. After I retired, we really went places. . . We went out and really saw the world.” Virginia’s family and friends remember her as independent, outspoken, adventurous, and youthful. She had a wonderful laugh and would always say what everyone else was thinking but not courageous enough to speak aloud. Virginia was an individual who lived by her own terms, no matter what others thought, and had a fiery spirit about her that was all her own. She was incredibly generous to those she loved, even when it meant sacrificing herself for others. Above all, Virginia will be remembered as a woman who lived her life as she saw fit, with confidence knowing she was the person God meant her to be. Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, January 12, 2008, in the Holman-Howe Chapel, Mansfield. Burial will be in the Mansfield, Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home at their convenience. Services are under the direction of Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Mansfield, Missouri. Return to top
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