Virginia Lee Clifford

Virginia Lee Lindberg Clifford, 89, of Bowling Green, died Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015, at her home surrounded by family.

She was born June 4, 1926, in Lexington, to the late Harry and Virginia Mae Finnell Lindberg. She was very proud of her Swedish and Irish heritage.

She attended Margaret Hall School in Versailles and graduated from Henry Clay High School in Lexington. She attended the University of Kentucky and graduated from Crump Commerce College, Lexington, where she was a member of Pi Rho Zeta International Sorority.

She married John Richard Clifford Sr. on June 7, 1947, at Calvary Baptist Church, High Street, Lexington, where she also had been baptized. John and Virginia had been married 56 years at the time of his death in 2004.

In 1957, she began a career at Mammoth Cave National Park, U.S. Department of Interior. She retired as executive secretary to the superintendent after 22 years of federal service receiving an Honor Award for Superior Service from the Department of Interior. From 1984-1989, she owned and operated a Christmas and gift shop, Under the Mistletoe, 1215 High St., Bowling Green, fulfilling her desire to share the season of Christmas year round.

She also was preceded in death by three brothers, William Roy Lindberg, Willard H. Lindberg and Harry Carter Lindberg; and a son-in-law, Gerald "Jerry" Kreke.

She is survived by her children, Dr. Angela Lynn Clifford and Deborah S. Todd of Versailles, Virginia Katherine "Kathy" Barlow (H.H.) of Cave City, Phyllis Jean Carmichael (Steve) of Bowling Green, Dr. John Richard Clifford Jr. (Sara) of Ashburn, Virginia, and Leslie Sharon Kreke of Bowling Green; 12 grandchildren, Travis Todd, Alexandra "Alex" Todd, Bonika Todd, Virginia "Gini Lin" Barlow Bowling, Harmon Howard (Brad) Barlow, John Paul Barlow, Joshua Barlow, Niki Carmichael, Megan Carmichael Turlington, Michelle Clifford Sheraw, Jason Richard Clifford and Lori Robin Kreke; and 19 great-grandchildren, the oldest of whom is Ashleigh Rae Stickler of Bowling Green; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The funeral is at 2 p.m. Saturday at The Presbyterian Church in Bowling Green with burial in Fairview Cemetery.

Visitation is from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday and continues from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday at the church.

Arrangements are entrusted to Hardy & Son Funeral Home in Bowling Green.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to The Presbyterian Church, 1003 State St., Bowling Green, or The Salvation Army of Bowling Green.