Virginia Lee Heider

August 22, 1925 to October 31, 2023

Virginia was born and raised in Texas and was the second oldest in a family of 5 girls. From an early age she dedicated her life to Jesus Christ and sang in church choirs. During WWII she and 2 of her sisters formed a singing group and would perform for the soldiers and airmen at the USO. She worked as a secretary at Brooks Army Hospital in San Antonio, where she met her husband George Heider from Pennsylvania who was a recovering soldier there. He swept her off her feet and they married in 1950 and immediately moved to Southern California. They eventually settled in West Covina where they raised 4 children. Virginia loved to sing and was always active in the choir at First Baptist Church in West Covina. As her kids got older she returned to work in the medical field. First at City of Hope as a secretary in Hematology research then as the Tumor Board Registrar at Inter Community Hospital in Covina.

After retirement she and George moved to Sun Lakes in Banning where they enjoyed an active social life, George golfed and they toured the country in their motor home. They joined Life Point Church in Banning and she of course joined the choir. She loved being a part of the Singing Christmas tree every year.

After George passed in 2005 Virginia continued to live in Sun Lakes, became a leader in her bible study group and sang in the choir. In 2016 she moved to Upland to be closer to family and lived with her son and daughter-in-law. At the beginning of this year she needed more care and went to live with her youngest daughter in Reno, NV where she passed away on Halloween.

Even though Virginia spent most of her life in Southern California and loved the beach and the mountains she returned to Texas almost every year to visit family and friends. She was always a Texas girl at heart who loved tomatoes, pecan pie, pralines or just plain pecans. George called her his yellow rose of Texas.

Virginia is survived by her four children and their spouses: Rick and Sandy Heider, Mariellen and Brad Lillard, Jerry and Denise Heider, and Sharon Heider. She is also leaves behind her beloved 6 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, and many more who call her Grandma and Great Grandma.

Her life's goal was to instill her Christian values and love for Jesus Christ into her kids and grand kids and she succeeded. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her here on earth. But what a welcome home party she's having in heaven with Jesus, George and all her family and friends!

A funeral service will be held Nov. 30, 2023 at 1:30 PM

Riverside National Cemetery

22495 Van Buren Blvd

Riverside, CA

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.stonefuneralhomeupland.com for the Heider family.