She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard “Smitty” Smith, her parents and her siblings, Jack Philpot and Susie Leffler, her son in law, John Bonanno and her granddaughter, Kelly Burgess.
Ginger is survived by her children, Michelle (James) Ridout, Royse City, TX, Michael (Shirley) Roland of Henderson, NV, Mark (Donna) Roland of Fate, TX and Marcia Bonanno. Adding to that, 9 grandchildren, Shyan Houk (Charles), Jamie George (David), Leslie Germain (Aaron), Paul Roland (Heather), Morgan Barger (Barney), Jennifer Studebaker (Josh), Mike Roland (Molly), Virginia Williams (Brooks), and Jacob Roland (Rachel) and 18 great grandchildren, Trey Ridout, Kaitlyn Studebaker, Kasen Studebaker, Layla Germain, Inara Germain, Thomas Houk, Ryan Houk, Jackson Houk, Josh Burgess, Sydney Claire Roland, Savannah Mae Roland, Brooklyn Williams, Lawson Williams, Gracen Williams, Owen Williams, Ethan Williams and Kennedy Nipper and Jett Finney.
She also leaves behind a special cousin, Gladys Deterding, nephew, Scott Philpot (Michele) and her precious companion, Bella, her little Shitz-Zu.
After graduating high school and a short time in college, Ginger joined the US Navy and served until she met her future husband, Paul Roland.
Paul became an air traffic control and they grew their family with the addition of the 4 “M’s”, Michelle, Mike, Mark and Marcia. Living in Chicago, IL, Houston, TX, LaPlace, LA and Shreveport, LA. Although they divorced in 1975, they remained in a friendly relationship which was great for their extended family.
In 1975 she met and married Howard “Smitty” Smith. They enjoyed camping together with friends and traveling to include a trip to Hawaii, sleigh riding in Vermont, visits to California, Florida and Nebraska to visit her hometown where she grew up.
They lived together in Jefferson, TX, Las Vegas, NV, Lake Charles, LA and Royse City, TX until Smitty passed away.
A few years ago, she moved to Shreveport, LA and lived in Summerfield Estates. We were grateful for her sweet friendship that she shared with Linda. Her granddaughter, Morgan, played a big part in her life the last year, taking her for standing lunches and mani/pedi dates. She attended The Celebration Church in Shreveport, LA.
Her greatest accomplishment she always told anyone who would listen was her 4 children. She wanted to be remembered for making others laugh and the sound of her laughter which was her spiritual gift. She was sassy, funny and cantankerous. She loved to sing and dance, loved big showy earrings, cheesecake, firepits and country music. She was always the first to say, Ante Up and Deal the Cards.
Buzza, Buzza, Buzza! (Family joke)
