Virginia L. Hilbert

Virginia L. Hilbert Virginia (Ginny) Hilbert, age 74, passed away Wednesday, October 7, 2009 in East Lansing after a long and hard fought battle with COPD. She was born on June 4, 1935 in Detroit, Michigan, the daughter of Howard and Lois Swaggerty. Virginia grew up in the greater Detroit area, and attended the University of Michigan, where she was an honors graduate in Sociology and an active member in Alpha Phi Sorority. The Swaggerty family and the Hilbert family grew up together, and her childhood crush, James Hilbert, also attended U of M. After dating her Freshman year, he told her she was "not the kind of girl you date - you're the kind of girl someone marries". When Jim returned from serving with the Marines in the Pacific, they reconnected, and were married in 1958. Virginia and Jim moved to East Lansing in 1970 with their four beautiful children. Virginia immediately became involved in her children's activities and local charities that strengthened the community. With her guidance, she helped each of her four children achieve the highest success in academics, athletics, and music, while teaching them the value of community involvement. All of her children, and probably many East Lansing school graduates, remember her as a fixture at their events. Whether it was watching the Football games and Marching Band in the snow, softball games in the rain, tennis matches in the cold, or even going underground at Rick's Café to watch her son's band "Doe Boys" with the college crowd, she was there. Virginia volunteered many hours to the Alpha Phi Heart Fund, Pro Symphony, East Lansing Schools, Tennis Patrons and Lansing Art Gallery. In the late 70's, with the help of every family member, Virginia began Lansing Computer Institute, a vocational school for data processing, which is now PTD Technology. With her keen business sense, outgoing nature, and can do attitude, she grew the business to the point that she was honored locally and nationally. In 1997, she earned the award of Greater Lansing Business Monthly "Entrepreneur of the Year Award-Education" and in 1998 she was honored by Dun & Bradstreet/Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the "Top Ten Woman-Owned Businesses in the Nation". Other business accolades included the 1999 YMCA Diana Award, 2000 ATHENA Award and the Sparrow Founders' Award in 2007. As a business owner, she continued to serve the community. She was a member of the Physicians Health Plan, Board of Directors, and member of the Quality Committee of the Board; Capital Area United Way Board, Chairman, Business Cultivation Committee; White House Small Business Conference, Region V, Human Capital Chair; and Sparrow Foundation. Her service organizations included Rotary Club of Lansing; Zonta of East Lansing; NFIB and National Business Education Alliance. In 2000, she retired from PTD Technology, although she remained the CEO of the company, and sustained her role as mentor. She continued to be active in the community, establishing the Women Working Wonders (W3) committee for Sparrow Foundation. This committee continues to advocate and raise money for women's health and wellness issues at Sparrow Hospital. Always, however, her greatest joy was spending time with her family. Before his passing, Jim Sr. would cook wonderful meals for the whole family and they enjoyed time at the cottage. She loved attending her grandchildren's activities and dinner with her women's group and spending time with her good friends such as Dianne, Marilyn, Dawn and Carolyn. Never one to be idle, when she found herself housebound, the highlight of her week was her time with Carolyn, learning to knit while watching the Great Lectures Series. All those who have known her have been touched in some way. Even with her multiple health problems, she was able to survive the unexpected deaths of her husband and son before her. Her determination and will to live, in spite of all her challenges, was remarkable. The family would like to thank all of the health care workers who helped in maintaining her quality of life. In particular, Dawn Springer, MD, John Armstrong, MD, and Clyde Flory, MD, who all had an impact in extending her life. She was preceded in death by her husband, James R. Hilbert Sr., her son, James R. Hilbert Jr., and her brother John Swaggerty. She is survived by her children, Jennifer (Andrew) Hogan of East Lansing, Douglas (Shelly) Hilbert of Grand Rapids, Alexandra (Douglas) Wiesner of East Lansing; grandchildren, Caroline and Christine Hilbert (Jim Jr.'s children), Connor and Alexandra Hogan, Thomas Hilbert, and Mathieu and Nicholas Wiesner; brother, Gerald Swaggerty; and sister, Barbara Stewart of Arizona. A funeral service will be held at 2 pm on Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Visitation will be held from 6 pm to 8 pm on Monday, October 12, 2009 at Gorsline-Runciman Funeral home in East Lansing, Michigan. Donations may be made in Virginia's memory to Sparrow Foundation - W3 and St. Paul's Episcopal Church. The family is being served by Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home, East Lansing. www.gorslineruncimanfuneralhomes.com