Virginia R. Leland

Bridgewater Virginia Richmond (Parker) Leland, of Bridgewater, passed away suddenly, at her home, Monday, Aug. 25, 2008, at the age of 86. Jinny, as she was so fondly called, was born Nov. 14, 1921. She was the only daughter of Andrew Richmond Parker and Grace Leonard Mann Parker of East Bridgewater. She attended East Bridgewater schools and was a graduate of the House in the Pines in Norton and Pierce Secretarial School in Boston. She was employed at the A.R. Parker Co. as secretary to her father until his death in 1951. She then took over the managerial role of the family business until it was sold in 1965. In her later years, she was involved with Triad in the town of Bridgewater and she was a member of Silver Lake Chapel in Plympton. Jinny was married to Donald L. Whiting of Whitman on March 3, 1940, and they raised three children together. They were divorced in 1962 when Donald moved to Alaska. She then married Charles L. Leland in November 1965 and they enjoyed many years of traveling around the country in a camper. They had a home in Kingston until 1992 when they moved to Bridgewater. Jinny is survived by her three children, Charles F. Whiting of Brandon, Vt., Donna R. Tankard of Vineyard Haven and Sandra J. Mola of Rotunda West, Fla.; and four stepchildren. She had nine grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; and three step-great-grandchildren. Mrs. Leland donated her body to the Harvard Medical School as an anatomical gift. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008, at 1 p.m. at the Community Center at High Pond Estates in Bridgewater. Prophett Funeral Home 508-697-4332