Virginia Sarah Waddell

Virginia S. Waddell, 92, long time resident of Brandon, FL and recently of Cape Coral, was called to join her Lord and Savior Friday, January 3, 2020 while resting peacefully in her home. She started her life journey on November 5, 1927 in the small rural railroad town of Montello, Nevada. The daughter of Joe and Josephina Abalos, Virginia and her five siblings were raised in a house of modest means constructed out of railroad ties. She spent her childhood on the homestead raising chickens, rabbits, and pigeons to support her family. A hardworking woman from birth, she survived the misfortunes of the Great Depression and childhood poverty, World War II, and the Vietnam War. Although outwardly gentle, Virginia was filled with a bold personal fortitude that led her on many distinct pathways during the course of her life.

For a time, Virginia worked as a gandy dancer, a section gang laborer, for the Southern Pacific railroad to earn money for her schooling. During her night shifts working on the railroad, she was guarded by a German Shepard who became a long-time close companion. After saving enough money working, Virginia matriculated at University of Nevada. She earned her teaching degree, a triumph especially admirable considering the challenges for a woman of her time. She went on to share her knowledge with children on an Indian Reservation who every morning rode to class on horseback, tying up their horses outside the one-room schoolhouse.

Virginia met her future husband, John K. Waddell, in her hometown, under circumstances that can only be described as a “sea story” encounter and romance. He was a WWII Merchant Marine Officer riding the rails home to West Virginia in a freezing cold boxcar after spending all his pay celebrating in San Francisco. After falling ill on the train, he washed ashore in Nevada, where he met Virginia. She was intrigued by the handsome, rogue sailor stranded in the Nevada desert. Excited to trade her small town for the wider world, Virginia and John eventually married and moved away from the desert.

Virginia was both a mother and military wife who supported her husband while he served in Air Force and Army duty posts both domestic and overseas. During long periods of wartime separation, she successfully filled the roles of both father and mother for her growing family. Virginia was a dedicated parent, the kind of mother who would complete the assignments her children forgot to do and who volunteered in the classroom whenever the school was in need of a teacher. Her quiet strength, keen intelligence and compassionate love will endure in the hearts and minds of her many friends and family members.

Virginia was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, John K. Waddell, her son John K. Waddell Jr., her brothers Raymond and Arnold Abalos, and her sister Christina Gutierrez.

She is survived by her son Jonathan Waddell, her daughters Ruth Weintraub and Nancy Waddell, grandchildren Blaine and Blake Waddell, Zach and Caylee Weintraub, Melissa Goode, Stephanie Waddell, Sarah Waddell, and Samantha Waddell, great grandchildren Levin and Mila Waddell, Nevaeh Waddell, Valcary Waddell, Damien Moret-Waddell, Maddison Ripley and Adrina Waddell.

A memorial service will be held on January 11, 2020 from 2-4 pm at Coral Ridge Funeral Home.