Virginia "Ginny" Marcile (Akey) Churchward

Virginia "Ginny" Marcile (Akey) Churchward, 99, passed away on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 at her home in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Born in LaOtto, Indiana on January 18, 1925. Ginny met her future husband, William "Bill" Warren Churchward, while employed at GE Supercharger during WWII building aircraft motors. Together they enjoyed listening to Big Band Music, especially Glenn Miller. She married Bill on June 30, 1945 and started the foundation of their family.

Ginny worked hard all of her life for various employers, finally taking her retirement from Ward Pattern & Engineering in 1993. Deciding that retirement was not for her, she embarked on a retail career first with Cub Foods, Roger's Markets, Scott's Foods and finally at the Kroger Company in Waynedale, where she retired at the age of 97 in 2022.

Ginny exceeded every definition of a mother and grandma. She was wise, low-key cool, held in high regard, a great cook and hostess. A gardener with a green thumb especially for roses, a canning whiz, card shark, master wall paper hanger, furniture refinisher and great at sewing. Ginny was a breast cancer survivor, a patient teacher and mentor to all her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and beyond. She was also a wonderful neighbor, friend and local Avon lady. Her home on Haber Drive was the neighborhood hub hosting many parties and kids baseball games. Everyone knew her warm smile, welcoming demeanor and dry humor.

Quite simply, Ginny ("Grandma Church”) broke the mold. She was a genuine and lovely soul who will be greatly missed by all those who knew her.

Ginny is survived by a large family with many miles in between yet still all closely connected in heart. Her daughter, Crystal (Churchward) Otis of Fort Wayne, Indiana; son, Robert (Estela) Churchward of Ashburn, Virginia; grandchildren, Steve (Jennifer) Churchward, Michele (Otis) Maile, Jeremy Otis all of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Lindsay (Sid) Churchward-Rao of Seattle, Washington, Leanne (Tom Edwards) Churchward of Ashburn, Virginia and Ryan (Ashleigh) Churchward of Westbury, New York; great-grandchildren, Zach (fiancé Amy and extended family) of Waukesha, Wisconsin, Bree (Brandon) Mills of LaOtto, Indiana, Steffane (Corey) Woods, Ashlynn Harpel, Andrew Churchward, William Churchward all of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Reese Otis of Edwardsville, Illinois, Beau Edwards, Ford Edwards of Ashburn, Virginia and Will Franklin Churchward of Westbury, New York; great-great-grandchildren, Kaylee, Chase and Lukas Maile all of Waukesha, Wisconsin, James, Shelby and Douglas Woods all of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Lacey and Haley Mills of LaOtto, Indiana; brother, Kenneth (Betty) Akey of South Carolina; sister-in-law, Lorraine Hoss; brother-in-law, Paul Churchward of Indiana; along with many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her cherished husband, William Churchward; baby daughter; parents, Leavitt and Edith Akey; siblings, Wayne (Marge),Walter (Annette), Georgia, Ilo, Wilbur (Gladys), Marion and Glenn; brothers-in-law, Wilbur (Mildred), James (Dorothy), Page (Iva) and Eugene (Fern); and sisters-in-law, Edna (Ed), Cecelia, Rita (Jon) and Susan (Matthew).

A celebration of life will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, November 2, 2024 at Elzey-Patterson-Rodak Home for Funerals, 6810 Old Trail Road, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46809, with visitation beginning at 11:00 am. Contributions in Ginny's memory may be made to Humane Fort Wayne.