Virginia Claire Ricks Eby

Growing up in Ocala, Virginia spent many happy days at Silver Springs. Her parents used to tell her that if she could find enough blue in the sky to make a Dutchman a pair of pants, she could go to the Springs. While still in high school, Virginia received her social security card from MGM Studios so she could perform as an extra in news shorts with Newt Perry, a swimming instructor, and with Ross Allen, of the Reptile Institute at Silver Springs, and in full-length movies, such as Moon over Miami, that were filmed at Silver Springs.

While at the Florida State College for Women (now Florida State University) in Tallahassee, Virginia won flying lessons that she thoroughly enjoyed. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics in 1946. From graduation until December 1947, she worked for Rich’s department store in Atlanta, Georgia, where she met her late husband George Wesley Eby of Winter Garden, Florida.

She and George married on September 12, 1947 in Ocala. They lived in Atlanta until George graduated from Emory with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration. They lived in Orlando and George farmed in Winter Garden. Virginia substitute taught in public schools and later taught business communications at Mid-Florida Technical College. She also was a chaperone for the Miss Florida Pageant and later sold real estate.

Virginia was a member of Goss Memorial United Methodist Church from 1947 until its closing in 2000, when she transferred her membership to First United Methodist Church of Orlando. She was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority and Sorosis Club of Orlando.

She is preceded in death by her parents O.B. (Doc) Ricks and Vera Burch Ricks; siblings Barbara Ricks Reid, Oscar Benjamin Ricks, and Raymond Daniel Ricks; husband George Wesley Eby, and son George Stephen Eby.

She is mourned by her daughters Barbara Eby Weaver and son-in-law Ken of Clemson, SC, Stephanie Eby Little and son-in-law Trent of Orlando, and son Kevin Ricks Eby and daughter-in-law Holly of Orlando; grandchildren Michael Weaver and Connie, Joy Weaver Taylor and Rick, Patrick Weaver and Macy, Heather Little Comer and Scott, Megan Burch Little, Georganna Elizabeth Little, Savannah Claire Eby, Randolph Stephen Eby; and four great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be Wednesday, March 21, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., at Carey Hand Funeral Home, 2811 Curry Ford Road, Orlando. The funeral service will be held on Thursday, 11:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church of Orlando. A reception at the church will follow the funeral service; then the burial will be at 1:30 p.m. at Woodlawn Memorial Park.