Virginia "Ginger" W. Martin

Virginia W. Martin (Ginger) passed into heaven on Friday, March 19, 2021. Ginger died after a long battle with COPD and other ailments. She was born on February 12, 1941 in Miami, Florida, as one of two children and the only daughter to Buel and Florence Will.

Ginger is preceded in death by her ex-husband John; parents Buel Will and Florence Mary Magdalene Will; her brother and best friend John B Will and his wife Linda Will; Uncle Frances and Aunt Audrey Frey, and other relatives and cousins.

Ginger leaves behind three children, Ginnie Meis (Mark), Julie Leighton (Mike Wright) and Patty Kelley (Kevin); five grandchildren, Hunter Meis, ENS Carter Meis, Kaden Kelley, Karson Kelley, and Kamden Kelley.

In her younger years, Ginger was a girlie girl with a profound love of dolls, she lost her mother at the age of 10, and her step-mother at age 16. She grew up in Florida, Minnesota, Canada, and Arizona and attended College at Florida Southern University.

After marrying John P. Martin, she moved to Houston, Texas, where she lived out the rest of her life. She experienced many challenges in the life beginning with the loss of her mother, divorce, single motherhood, working to make ends meet (at Wick N’ Sticks, Sylvania Lighting, American Tower, etc.), and as caretaker to her father who suffered from Parkinson’s and blindness. She remained a tower of strength in spite of her many health and stress related ailments. All the while she retained a unique “generous to a fault” spirit.

She always had a love for food, collecting recipes and knick-knacks, hosting gatherings and feasts, and playing bridge and other card games. She participated in many social groups including New Directions and the Red Hat Ladies in Clear Lake, Texas.

Her mother was a Catholic, but Ginger was raised as Protestant. She attended First Presbyterian Church in her early years of marriage. She had a special love for the baby Jesus, the angels and Christmas.

Ginger loved her family with all her heart and left behind a simple legacy like that of Mother Teresa: “Do Small Things with Great Love.”

A memorial service for Virginia will be held Thursday, March 25, 2021 at 11:00 AM at St. Bernadette Catholic Church, 15500 El Camino Real, Houston, Texas 77062.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ForestParkEast-FHC.com for the Martin family.