Virginia Lea Baird

Virginia Lea Baird was born February 18,1932 to George and Maude Rubia. Her mother passed away when Virginia was 12 years old. At that time her Aunt Mable and Uncle Floyd Baird took her in and raised her as their own. She was never formally adopted, but her aunt and uncle had no problem when Virginia wanted to legally change her last name to Baird. Virginia worked with Floyd in the fields where she learned to ride horses, work cattle and put up tons of hay every year. Mabel taught Virginia how to cook, sew and raise a garden. Virginia was an accomplished seamstress making lots of western shirts with fancy yokes. Virginia also raised lambs, chickens, terrier puppies, pigs, horses and bottle fed calves.

Virginia wore many hats during her lifetime, but she was always a country girl at heart. Virginia took care of Floyd and Mabel until they both passed away. In order to stay home with them she bought a quilting machine and taught herself to make machine quilts. She became an excellent quilt maker and several of her quilts went all over the US and even England and Germany. She kept her prices down so that her elderly customers could afford to have their quilts finished.

After Floyd and Mabel passed, Virginia started working for USD 259 Wichita in the food production kitchen for all of the Wichita schools and worked for 17 years before retiring. The Andover school system learned about her and hired her to work in the Andover school kitchens for another 5 years.

Virginia had many hobbies. She was an avid trail rider on horseback and was a member of Sedgwick county mounted posse. She loved to vacation in Colorado. She drove a team of horses pulling a wagon in the Bear Tooth Mountains in Montana. She enjoyed RVing, camping and riding on the motorcycle.

Virginia was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the American Legion Riders. She was a member of the Goldwing Road Riders Association.

Virginia was a soft spoken, kind, generous and loving person. She took care of numerous nieces, nephews and friends kids, playing an important role in their lives as they grew up.

Virginia worked hard all of her life and never complained about it. She leaves behind many friends and she will be greatly missed.

A funeral service for Virginia will be held Monday, December 13, 2021 at 2:00 PM with a visitation from 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM at Hope Community Church, 1831 E 21st St, Andover, KS 67002.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Virginia's memory may be made to Hope In The Valley Equine Rescue & Sanctuary, Inc., 9025 N Broadway, Valley Center, Kansas 67147 US, https://www.hopeinthevalleyequinerescue.org/how-you-can-help/.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MyLakeviewFuneralHome.com.