Virginia T. Wheet

Virginia Therese Wheet, of Riva, Maryland, celebrated 98 years young before joining her heavenly family, on April 29, 2024. Born in Philadelphia County to the late Charles and Irene Brogan, Virginia was the oldest of 8 children growing up in Wayne, PA and was affectionately called “Ginny.”

She joins her husband and soulmate Petty Officer Kimball Mansfield Wheet and her eldest son, Kimball Jr in heaven, along with her siblings Charles Michael Brogan, Irene Brogan Christy, and Jane Brogan Fallon.

Survived by 9 of her 10 children, Virginia “Ginny Anne” Tydings, Charles Michael Wheet, Gregory Wheet, Stephen Wheet (Karen), Patricia Fling (Mark), Loretta Jorden (Robert), Kristine Cupp, Rondald Wheet and Carolyn Olmo (Vince); and her beloved 32 grandchildren Billy, Annie, Tommy & Chris; Sarah & Kathryn; Nikkie, Michael & Alice; Meggan & Rachel; Erin, Sean, Samantha & Jonathan; AJ & Charlie; Eimile, Irene, Virginia & Loretta; Kimberly, Daniel & Stephanie; Olivia, Jenna, Vivienne & Emily; Stephen, Victoria, Julia & Cara and cherished 21 great-grandchildren Eli, Evan, Enzo & Izzy; Lix, Maeve, Cora, Rigel & Juliana; Hazel, Henry, & Alexander; Vera, Jorden, Michael & William; Halleigh, Hannah, Bridget, Olivia, Fiona & Daniel Jr; as well as her younger siblings William Brogan, George Brogan, Thomas Brogan, and Loretta Maitre.

As a child, Virginia was an avid reader. She graduated from Notre Dame High School (Moylan, PA) in Philadelphia before attending Drexel University, earning a certificate in Engineering Drafting in 1944. War World II brought a reduction in the male dominated workforce, and Virginia became the first woman to work at United Engineering and Constructors in Philadelphia. Virginia met Kimball at a USO dance in Philly with her friends, falling in love and marrying on July 5, 1947 after a 3 week engagement. Kimball’s Naval career eventually took them from North Severn Military Base to Annapolis where they relocated to Riva, Maryland in 1953 in Sylvan Shores, raising ten children together and continuing to go square dancing.

Once relocated, they were active members of St. Mary’s of Annapolis and the Annapolis Fleet Reserve Association, where Ginny was a charter member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Fleet Reserve Unit 24. She even served as a Girl Scout cookie mom one year for her youngest.

Virginia was a wonderfully present and loving mother, from rousing her brood up for school with breakfast, to having dinner on the table every night, always making time to help with homework. She was the epitome of family first.

After Kimball’s passing on May 4, 1983, Ginny worked for many years as Banking Customer Service at Bank of America on Riva Road in Annapolis. She balanced cruises with friends and visits with out-of-town family with opening her home to her children and helping raise her grandchildren when needed.

Virginia filled her life with her family; her house brimming with grandchildren, friends, and neighbors. She enjoyed hot days by the pool doling out popsicles and blue fruit juice. You could always hear opera blasting throughout the house, from Bocelli to Susan Boyle, unless she had showtunes like My Fair Lady or the Sound of Music on repeat. A true Irishwoman, her favorite vegetable was potatoes and “any old port in the storm” to sip on while doing the crossword puzzle, only to be trumped by a gin martini with extra olives.

She’d want her family to know that she loves them “a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck.”

Visitation for Virginia will be held Wednesday, May 15, 2024 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM and from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, at the John M. Taylor Funeral Home 147 DUKE OF GLOUCESTER ST, ANNAPOLIS, MD 21401.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, May 16, 2024 from 10:30 AM at St John Neumann Catholic Church, 620 N Bestgate Rd, Annapolis, MD 21401. Followed by burial at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, 1911 Forest Dr, Annapolis, MD 21401.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Virginia's memory to LAFRA (Ladies Auxiliary Fleet Reserve Association) Scholarship Fund, PO Box 706, Goose Creek, SC 29445