Virginia ROBARDS

Robards, Virginia Agnes, 90, formerly of Morgantown, W.Va., went to her heavenly home on Saturday, December 22, 2012. Agnes was born in Short Creek, W.Va., on May 1, 1922, to L.B. and Rosine Thomas, of Wheeling, W.Va. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Allen Robards, and one brother. She is survived by her children, Theresa Robards, of Mt. Pleasant, S.C.; John Robards, of Wilmington, N.C.; Rose Russo, of Waynesville, N.C.; Carol Croop, of Atlanta, Ga.; Mary Ellen Robards and Cathleen Shinn, both of Midlothian, Va.; three siblings, 15 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and five sons-in-law. Agnes graduated from the Wheeling Hospital School of Nursing and St. Louis University, and served as a captain in the Women's Army Corps during World War II. As head nurse at the Fitzsimons Army Hospital, in Denver, Colo., she met a pilot named Robert Allen Robards. He wanted a date with "that beautiful nurse"; they were married for 37 years. Agnes was an associate professor of nursing at West Virginia University and a successful business owner. She was a resident of Midlothian, Va., for 26 years and a member of St. Gabriel's Catholic Church. A memorial mass will be held on Saturday, January 19, at St. John University Parish in Morgantown, W.Va.


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