Virginia May Mahan

Virginia May (Phillips) Mahan, age 81, passed away on Sunday, April 27, 2025, in Waco, Texas. There will be a graveside service on May 12, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. in Crawford Cemetery in Crawford, Texas.

Virginia was born on August 14, 1943, to Willard Edward and Alma Maxine (Willingham) Phillips in McAllen, Texas. She is a longtime resident of McLennan County.

Virginia married Robert Eugene ‘Bob’ Mahan in 1960, and had three children, Melissa Kaye, Robert Steven, and Stuart Eugene.

Being a cancer survivor and overcoming other health issues, Virginia has volunteered the last 22 years with Providence Hospice Community Care of Texas, giving encouragement and help to others in time of need. She became aware of the hope that God can offer people and spread that hope to others.

Virginia’s farming background inspired her lifelong passion for nature. This passion manifested itself through her love of gardening and flower cultivation. She enjoyed frequent trips around the countryside in pursuit of wildflower vistas and wildlife sightings. Her enjoyment of wildlife continued at home through maintaining hummingbird stations and stocking wild bird feeders. The bird feeders contributed to the visits of new bird species to her home birdbath and fueled her excitement to learn about each new avian appearance.

Virginia’s life journey was her walk with God, being in the outdoors and selflessly serving family and others. She often said she felt closest to God when she was working in the garden. She was an insightful wife, mother and grandmother who knew her family as only she could.

She will be greatly missed by all.

Virginia is preceded in death by her parents and husband, Robert Eugene “Bob” Mahan, brothers, Lester, Chesley and Edward Phillips.

Survivors include her daughter, Melissa Kaye (Mahan) Williams and husband, Charles, sons Robert Steven Mahan, and Stuart Eugene Mahan and wife, Pauline, grandchildren, Magen Elaine Rigdon Pirpich and husband, James, Allyson (Mahan) Vinson and husband, Daniel, Benjamin Mahan and great grandchildren Clark Vinson and Arthur Vinson.