Virginia Ann "Ginnie" Isele

1940 - 2016

Virginia Ann "Ginnie" Isele

CARY, NC: Virginia Ann "Ginnie" Isele, 76, passed away at her home on October 15th, after a brief illness with her loving husband of 54 years, Ron, at her bedside. She was born on August 10, 1940 in Cleveland, Ohio and attended Cleveland Heights High School. In her teenage years she was an accomplished dancer and following her graduation from high school she toured for nine months with a modern jazz dance trio in supper clubs and other venues from New York to Florida as a lead in act for Vaughn Monroe. She entered Kent State University, where she was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority, and graduated with her degree in Speech Pathology in 1962. She was the first speech therapist hired to serve the Ravenna school district in that same year.

After two years in Tacoma, Washington with her husband during his military service, she accompanied him to his new job at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. She ultimately earned her Master's degree in Speech Pathology at Ohio University and worked as the speech pathologist for the Trimble school system. She then returned to the university and earned her Ph.D. in educational administration after which she was hired as principal of Carrol Elementary in the Bloom-Carrot School District. She spent a year as Superintendent of the Amanda-Clearcreek schools, following which she returned to be principal of Bloom Elementary. She was also Director of Curriculum for the New Lexington schools and finished her career as a curriculum consultant in the Northern Local school district. In 2013 she moved with her husband to North Carolina where they resided in the Carolina Preserve at 310 Abbey View Way, Cary, NC 27519. She was active in a number of organizations in the Carolina Preserve community and a member of Saint Stephen's Episcopal church. She was an avid reader and lover of broadway music. She will be remembered for her organization, determination and love of her family.

She is survived by her loving husband Ron; daughters Kimberly Ann Isele of Northbrook, Illinois and Amy Lynn Armstrong of Cary, North Carolina; grandchildren Morgan Armstrong, Taylor Armstrong, and Jason Isele; brother Anthony Tomsic and sister Candace Downes, and dear friends Jeanette Shallop of Indianapolis, Indiana and Richard Snelling of Lancaster, Ohio. She was preceded in death by her father Anthony Tomsic, Jr. and her mother Antonia Tomsic.

A memorial service at St. Stephen's Episcopal church in Durham will be announced in the near future. Donations in Ginnie's name should be made to Transitions Life Care, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607 or St. Stephen's Episcopal church at 82 Kimberly Dr., Durham, NC 27707. Condolences to the family should be sent to 310 Abbey View Way, Cary, NC 27519 or ronisele@nc.rr.com.