Virginia I. Lewis

Virginia I. (Clarke) Lewis

MARION: Virginia I. "Ginnie" (Clarke) Lewis, age 90, passed away peacefully in the presence of family on Monday, October 13. 2014.

She was born July 27, 1924, in Columbus, Ohio, to Herbert and Celeste (Adams) Clarke. As a young girl growing up during the depression, she enjoyed scrapbooking movie stars, eating ice cream, going to the movies on a Sunday afternoon, and making candy with neighbors. Following her graduation from Harding High School in 1942, Virginia worked as a personal secretary at the Universal Cooler during World War II.

In 1944, she met Martin C. "Jack" Lewis at a dance while he was on leave from the service and fell in love with him. They married on April 11, 1945, and had two daughters. Virginia spent many years as a volunteer at the American Cancer Society, a Brownie and Girl Scout troop leader, a member of the Pleasant Mothers' Club, a room mother for her daughters' elementary classes, and an active member of Emanuel Lutheran Church in Marion and later Living Lord Lutheran Church in Vero Beach, Florida. Professionally, she served 24 years as a secretary, specifically for Floyd G. Brown and Associates and the Marion County Sanitary Engineer's Office.

Virginia and Jack retired in 1980 and moved to Sebastian, Florida, where they lived for 10 years and soaked up the sun in their swimming pool. They then moved to Vero Beach, Florida, where they spent another 22 years together, enjoying the warm climate and wonderful friendships they formed over the years. She still loved eating ice cream, along with cooking for and entertaining friends and family, playing euchre, and archiving for her church. Her life was highlighted by five trips she and Jack made to Hawaii. Most of all, Virginia loved her girls and often told them that she lived for them. Jack passed away on November 3, 2010, and in May of 2013 her daughters convinced her to return to Marion to be nearer to her family. She resided happily in a villa at Primrose Retirement Community where she enjoyed friends and activities.

Virginia was preceded in death by her sister, Shirley Willis; brother, Robert L. Clarke; sister-in-law, Jeanne Lee, their spouses, and her husband Jack of 65 ½ years.

She is survived by a brother-in-law Richard J. (Pat) Lewis; her two daughters Lynne (Steve) James of Houston, Texas, and Laura Marshall of Prospect, along with four grandchildren, Christopher (Sherry) James, Joseph (Susan) James, Eric (Andrea) Marshall, and Tara (Scott) Swingle; and five great-grandchildren, Amari, Ethan, Haley, Abigail, and Zion.

She recently was blessed to have celebrated her 90th birthday with family, friends, and church family from Trinity Lutheran (where she was a member since returning to Marion), who shared their love for her at an open house. Many fond memories were written for this celebration, and a common sentiment expressed was her warm, friendly smile and welcoming spirit.

The family is very grateful for the loving care given to their mother and grandmother by the staff of Presidential Center and the hospice team from Heartland. A special thank you is extended to Dr. John McDonough, who Virginia and her daughters credit with giving her a "bonus year" of life.

Family will gather privately at a later date when she will be laid to rest alongside her husband in the Memorial Columbarium Garden at Living Lord Lutheran Church in Vero Beach.

Memorial contributions may be made to the church columbarium expansion fund or Heartland Enriching Life of Marion, Ohio.