Virginia Margaret Ozbun

Virginia Margaret Ozbun, 93, of Aurora, Missouri., departed this life on July 28, 2024, at Cox South Hospital in Springfield, Missouri, after a short illness. Virginia was born August 29, 1930, in Aurora, to the late Ed and Grace (Hollingsworth) Willcock. She was united in marriage to Cecil Ozbun on May 6, 1951. Cecil preceded her in death.
Virginia's first job after high school was at the MFA Exchange in Aurora. This is where she met her husband, Cecil. Cecil had asked one of his good high school friends Jr. Bogart about this pretty red head that was a cashier at the MFA Exchange. Being shy about asking Virginia out on a date he would visit the store daily to buy a loaf of bread. His mother was confused when the loaf of bread started showing up every day when she was in the habit of making bread herself. But after about six bread purchases, he finally got the courage up to ask her out. Virginia worked at the MFA Exchange for about two years. From there she interviewed and was hired at Empire District Electric in 1953. Empire had just recently opened an office in Aurora. Virginia retired from Empire District Electric in 1995 after working there for 42 years.
Virginia and her husband also owned and operated the Irwin Ozbun Conoco station off the square in Aurora. She helped keep the books while remaining at her job at Empire. Later in life her husband owned a heavy equip¬ment business and she again was involved behind the scenes in the business. Virginia joined the First Baptist Church where she was an active member until her health prevented her from attending. She enjoyed her Sunday School class where she had many friends. Virginia loved to cook and was an avid recipe collector leading to a drawer and basket full of recipe clippings. She would go through Taste of Home and Birds in Bloom magazines coming up with all kinds of recipes to try. Especially all kinds of desserts - her favorite dessert being carrot cake. Virginia loved to shop with her sisters-in-law and nieces. Shoes were her favorite item. When she was younger, she would have a great selection to choose from because the floor samples at the shoe stores were always 4 1/2 - Just Her Size!
Virginia was always a people person. She has had many friends over the years from school, work, and church. She would be the one to initiate the calls to keep in contact with them and see how they were doing. Also, there wasn't a neighbor around her that she didn't know and kept in contact with always asking about their family members. Long time friends Don and Betty King were loyal to the end in seeing her and being an encouragement. Lee Ann Johnson, another neighbor, was a great help to Virginia before she had to leave her home.
Virginia is survived by five nieces, Gail Lurvey and husband, Don of Springfield, Missouri, Regina Obermann and husband, Roy of Freistatt, Missouri, Sandra Cooksey and husband, Jon of Claremore, Oklahoma, Carol Bogart of Vacaville, California, and Dana Tatham of Vacaville, California; one nephew Ed and wife, D'Ann Ozbun of Arbuckle, California; one great-niece, Robyn Drake; one great-nephew, Alan Obermann and wife, Jaime and two great-great nephews, Jeffrey Drake and Wade Obermann.
Virginia was preceded in death by her parents, Ed and Grace Willcock, her husband, Cecil Ozbun, her brother, Jay Willcock and his wife, Isabell.
Virginia will be greatly missed by family and friends.
A visitation will be held from 10:00-11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 2, 2024, at Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home in Aurora, with a funeral service to follow at 11:00 a.m. in the funeral home chapel with Pastor Curtis Owens officiating. A burial will follow at the Maple Park Cemetery in Aurora.
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