Virginia S. Nobles

NOBLES, Virginia S., beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister, aged 95, passed away on December 4, 2008, surrounded by family, after a long and loving life. Virginia was born in Kenosha, Wis. on December 1, 1913, the second daughter of Virginia Laura Schwartz (later Trollinger) and Jay Henry Schwartz. Her older sister, Hazel S. Ryland, preceded her in death. Virginia lived in both Ohio and Pennsylvania before moving, at an early age, to Colonial Heights, Va. At age 19, Virginia married her childhood sweetheart, Charles Yates Nobles, who predeceased her in July 2002. Virginia will be greatly missed by her sister, Peggy T. Adams and her life partner, Judy L. Simmons, of Chesterfield County; her three children, Donald Y. Nobles of Colonial Heights, M. Yates Nobles of Charlottesville, and Barbara N. Altizer and her husband, Charles B. Altizer, of Chesterfield County; her grandchildren, Janet N. Morehart of Herndon, Donald Y. Nobles II and his wife, Terry M. Nobles, of Chesterfield County, and Patty N. Woodward of Colonial Heights; Jason A. Ivey of Charlottesville, Nathaniel S. Ivey of New Orleans, La. and L. Wyndham I. Bailey and her husband, Jeremy D. Bailey, of Houston, Texas; C.H. Alexander Altizer and his wife, Laura Perry-Altizer, of Chesterfield County, Va., A. Isley and her husband, Bryan A. Isley, of Burlington, N.C. and Anna E. Altizer of Manhattan Beach, Calif.; her great-grandchildren, Sarah M. Ford and her husband, Michael J. Ford, of Aldie, Va. and Amanda H. Morehart of Laconia, N.H.; Joseph G. Nobles and Jacob Y. Nobles, of Chesterfield County; Wren Woodward and Anne-Caroline Woodward, of Colonial Heights; Wilson A. Bailey of Houston, Texas; V. Britton Isley and Bryan A. Isley II of Burlington, N.C.; and her great-great-grandchildren, Joshua I. Kelly, Maya H. Kelly and Chloe F. Kelly of Laconia, N.H. Virginia partnered with her husband Dick by directing the administrative side of their business, Town and Country Realty in Petersburg, Va., from 1949 to September of 2005. Virginia served the community for many years as a volunteer with the Twigs at the Southside Regional Medical Center, delivering flowers to patients. She was Treasurer of the Burlington Garden Club for many years and, as a member, notorious for winning "best specimen" with her flowers. Her ability as a gardener was well-known and she shared the secrets of gardening as well as her specimens with family and friends. She was a faithful friend to the birds who were attracted to her garden. Virginia was a devoted mother to her children and grandchildren and has been inspirational both in character and competence. Among the gifts Virginia leaves to family by way of example are her generosity, her kindness, her selflessness and her commitment to enrich the lives of others. She opened the door to the joys of travel to her children and grandchildren. Virginia was skilled at many crafts, including cooking, rug braiding, quilting, embroidery and knitting. Virginia and her family are forever appreciative to her dedicated caregivers over the past few years, Christine Younger and Patricia Smith. Family visitation will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Colonial Heights Chapel of the E. Alvin Small Funeral Homes and Crematory, 2033 Boulevard, on Saturday, December 6, 2008. A memorial service will be held at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, December 7, 2008, in Woodlawn Baptist Church, 3120 Woodlawn Avenue, Colonial Heights. Burial will be held at 1:30 p.m. Sunday in Sunset Memorial Park, Chester. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Burlington Garden Club at 1305 Canterbury Lane, Colonial Heights, Va. 23834 or to the Federated Women's Club of Petersburg, c/o Mrs. Jack Chaney at 8700 Privet Dr., Chesterfield, Va. 23237. Condolences may be registered at www.ealvinsmall.com.


This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.