Surrounded by her loving family, Virginia died June 13, 2011 in Skokie, Ill., at the age of 91.
Virginia was born in Belleville, Ill., March 31, 1920. She was the daughter of Henry C. and Stella E. (Stoeckel) Deppe. She graduated from Belleville Township High School in 1938. While attending Jewish Hospital Nursing School in St. Louis, Mo., she married Vernon L. Bailey on March 16, 1940. During her husband's service in the U.S. Navy during World War II, Virginia was employed in the metallurgical laboratory and in charge of the dark room of the Chrysler Corporation's Detroit, Michigan plant. In 1946 she received a Presidential citation for work essential to the production of the atomic bomb that brought World War II to a successful conclusion. She and her husband returned to Belleville, Ill., in 1946 to raise their family and during the next 20 years she was employed by Dr. George E. Meyer, M.D. At the age of 51 Virginia returned to nursing school and became a registered nurse. She worked as a nurse at Belleville Memorial Hospital and retired in 1990 at the age of 70. Her fondest nursing experiences were caring for the young mothers and babies in the Maternity Birthing Center at Memorial Hospital in Belleville. Virginia was known by all who knew her for her love of gardening and her beautiful crochet work.
Her husband, Vernon L. Bailey, preceded her in death in 1982 after 42 years of marriage. She was also preceded in death by her parents, her brother Norman Deppe and a grandson Alex A. Dewey.
Virginia is survived by her four children Vernon L. (Barbara) Bailey Jr., Ph.D. of Livermore, Calif.; Robert A. (Emily) Bailey, Ph.D. of Livermore, Calif.; Jane E. Bailey of Wilmette, Ill.; and Kathy A. (David Dewey) Bailey, M.D. of Wilmette, Ill. She has four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren who will always remember her kindness and love.
Donations can be made in her name to The Make a Wish Foundation of Illinois.
Funeral: A private service and interment will take place at Valhalla Gardens of Memory, Belleville, Ill.
VALHALLA GAERDNER HOLTEN FUNERAL HOME, Belleville, Ill.
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