Virginia Wells Andersen

Virginia Wells Andersen, 93, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 1, 2017 surrounded by her family. Virginia, or Ginny, as she was known by friends, was born in Hartford, the daughter of the late Donald B. Wells, MD and Virginia Burwell Wells. She graduated from Oxford School and attended Smith College, graduating in three years with a degree in physics. Professionally, she had a varied career. She worked briefly as a technician in the radiology department at Hartford Hospital and then as a research associate at Crystal Research Labs where she helped develop a key component of early radar systems in the latter part of World War II and the early Cold War. After a motherhood retirement, she worked as a local correspondent for the Hartford Times, bringing a small town flavor to a big city newspaper. She finished her professional life as co-founder and president of a small electronics manufacturing company making some of the same components for radar systems as in her early career. Her lifelong passion was horses, riding constantly as a child. Later in life she traded a saddle for a pony cart and became an avid carriage driver, competing throughout New England and occasionally in California well into her late 70s. She was predeceased by her former husband, Douglas Miner and her second husband, Walther Andersen. She is survived by her son, Donald Miner and his wife Deborah of Suffield, her daughter Virginia Miner of Livermore California and her sister, Elizabeth Fahl of Wilmington DE. She is also survived by three grandchildren: Kimberly Madore and her husband Gregory of Glendale CA, Kristina Miner of Newington and Geoffrey Miner and his wife Rachel of Suffield, a great grandson, Joseph, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews from the Wells and Burwell families. Friends are asked to gather at Nicholson & Carmon Funeral Home, 443 East St N. (Rt. 159), Suffield on Monday, May 8, 2017 from 5 to 8 pm. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. To leave on-line condolences please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com.