Virginia Z. Massie

Dr. Virginia Zirkel Massie, 71, died Wednesday, May 4, 2011, in Baton Rouge of natural causes. A lifelong educator and academic, Virginia (Ginny to most) was born Feb. 13, 1940, to Mil and Al Zirkel, and grew up in Jacksonville, Fla. Ginny attended Bishop Kenny High School and later graduated summa cum laude from the University of Florida, where she studied education and was a member of the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority. Ginny later taught for 20 years at the prestigious Julius T. Wright School in Mobile, Ala. While teaching full-time, and raising three children, Ginny also secured a master's degree from the University of South Alabama, and ultimately, her Ph.D. from LSU. During the course of her Ph.D. studies at LSU, she met the love of her life, Walt Massie Jr. They celebrated their 20th anniversary on April 26, 2011, only days before her death. Ginny is survived by her beloved sister, JoAnn Hartley-Spagnuola; sons, Michael, James and Brian; and grandchildren, Matthew, Mille, Noah and Nicholas. A rosary visitation will be held at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government St., on Friday, May 6, at 6 p.m. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, 2021 Stuart Ave., on Saturday, May 7, at noon. Condolences may be sent to 2145 Wisteria St., Baton Rouge, LA 70806.