March 24, 1919 ~ July 18, 2011
Devoted Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Teacher, Friend.
Born in New York City in 1919 to parents Harry Gibson (from Ireland) and Alice Maude Bussey Gibson (from Canada) Virginia grew up in the Bronx with an unquenchable desire to go, learn, and do.
She married James Gates and later became a proud Mother to Virginia Louise Gates, born February 3, 1941. Her love of children led to the decision to return to school in her late 30's to become a teacher.
She began her teaching career in 1962 at New Milford Junior High School in Bergen County, New Jersey, then moved to Florida in 1964 where she worked for Pinellas County Schools as teacher, then as Coordinator of Secondary Title I Reading. In 1974 through 1976 she was teaching assistant principal for the American School Foundation in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas Mexico, where she helped start a school for children of U.S.D.A. key personnel working to eradicate cattle screwworm. She also was a professor at Eckerd College in the 1970's, then Title I Coordinator for Suwannee County School Board. She traveled extensively throughout the world, with friends and sometimes alone. She married William Wyman in 1982, who also taught for Pinellas County Schools, and the energetic couple retired together in 1985 & traveled all over the U.S. in their R.V.
She is survived by daughter Virginia 'Ginny' Gates of Tarpon Springs, FL, 3 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren.
Dedicated to family, great friend to many, and never afraid to go, learn, and do ~ Virginia 'Viqui' lived a full life and will be missed by many.
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