Virginia was a loving and devoted wife to the late Joy E. Gilbert; generous and loving mom to Phillip D. (Deborah) Gilbert, Susan Joy (Arnold) Binggeli, and Judith Lyn (the late Chuck) Laughlin; dear grandmother of Jennifer Laurie (Chris) Ryan, Heather (Oliver) Keller, Ryan Donald Cox, Brennan Phillip (Cassandra) Cox, and Michael David Laughlin; great-grandmother of Maura, Ainsley, Marcus, Quinn, Geneva, and Finn; dear aunt, great-aunt, and a friend to many over her lifetime.
Virginia was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas on February 9, 1919 to Franklin Carl Smith and Mary Josephine McFadden Smith. She was the baby of five children. She met the love of her life, Joy, while working in the same department store in Arkansas, she in the dress department and he in the shoe department. Joy served his country during World War II, as Virginia kept the home fires burning. She kept every one of the love letters exchanged between them. Upon his discharge, they moved to St. Louis where Joy opened Joy's Footwear in Hampton Village Plaza. The store remained in the family until Joy's passing in 1979.
Virginia and Joy were blessed with three children and many grandchildren. She was fortunate to be a stay-at-home mom, and was active in the school PTA. She loved bowling and bowled in a league, and was an avid bridge player. Virginia maintained these friendships for many years.
Virginia had a beautiful singing voice and happily sang around the house, which her children enjoyed very much. She volunteered with Meals on Wheels, sometimes delivering to people much younger than she. She had a green thumb and her beautiful garden was always her oasis.
Her last years were spent at Bethesda Orchard in Webster Groves. Visits from her family were always a blessing and a treat. She loved being surrounded by her family. Virginia will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.
Visitation will be Wednesday, December 18 from 6-8pm at Hoffmeister Colonial Mortuary 6464 Chippewa 63109. A Funeral Service will be held Thursday, December 19 at 10am at the funeral home. Interment at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery will immediately follow at 11:15am.
If desired, contributions in Virginia's memory to Autism Speaks would be greatly appreciated by the family.
Please leave your favorite memory of Virginia for her family to cherish at the "Add a Memory" link below.
