Virginia Cottrell Linkenauger

She was a loving and kind mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, wife, sister and teacher, leaving a positive impact on countless lives. She traveled through life with a gentle grace, quiet strength and generosity. Virginia had a great grasp of the English language and loved reading, bridge and crossword puzzles. Her greatest joys came from sailing with her husband on the Chesapeake Bay, and generously opening her house on the Chickahominy River to family, friends, and strangers alike.

Virginia was born on July 27, 1930, in Richmond, VA and grew up in Norfolk, attending Maury High School, and participating in chorus and synchronized swimming. She went on to attend the College of William and Mary earning a B.S. degree in English in 1952, a Master of Education in 1968, and was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority. She met her husband Mont at William and Mary and shared 49 years of marriage until his death.

Virginia had a long career with the WJCC Public School System as a high school English teacher, and served as the Head of the English Dept. at Lafayette H.S. After her retirement, Virginia continued to serve her community as a volunteer with FISH, Meals on Wheels and the Woman’s Club of Toano.

Her spirit will live on through her brother, Benjamin G. Cottrell, IV and his wife, Rachel of Norfolk; sons, Mont and David (Diana); daughter-in-law, Debbie; ten grandchildren: Mont, Morgan (Lauren), Anna King (Tyler), Betty Segaar, Sally, James (Alyssa), David (Katie), Eva Frisbie (Tyler), Kurt (Whitney) and Sofia; and sixteen great-grandchildren: Oliver, Owen, Gabriella, Lillian, Madison and Sloan King, Colton, Lila, Casey and Webb Segaar, Grayson and Rhett Frisbie, Palmer, Bodie, David and Jack.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Mont; her son, James; her father, James D. Cottrell and her mother, Zenovia G. Cottrell. A service to celebrate her life will be held at 2 PM, Wed., Oct. 1, 2025 at the Williamsburg United Methodist Church, 500 Jamestown Rd., followed by a reception at the William and Mary Alumni House, 500 Richmond Rd.

Arrangements are entrusted to Nelsen Funeral Home-Williamsburg. Memorial contributions may be made to the William and Mary Athletic Impact Fund, specifically the Mont M. and Virginia Cottrell Linkenauger Sports Medicine Endowment (2209). Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.NelsenWilliamsburg.com.