Virginia Bartling

1940 - 2025

Virginia "Ginny" Bartling, devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend, passed away peacefully on September 12, 2025, after receiving the Last Rites of the Catholic Church. Ginny was preceded in death by her husband, William J. "Bill" Bartling, with whom she shared her life for over 25 years. She was the beloved mother of Ann, Jack, Jeanne (Will) Gillanders and Jay (Heather) Bartling and the proud grandmother of Emma, Ian and Teddy Gillanders and Kate, William and Ben Bartling. She was a devoted sister to Mary Anne (Jerry) Beckmann, Sallie Mertens, Sue (Mike) Carroll, Mike (Ginny) Rafferty, Jim (Mary) Rafferty, and Karen (Pat) Heath, and a supportive aunt to her 25 nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her sisters Mary Anne Beckmann and Sallie Mertens and brothers-in-law Jerry Beckmann and Mike Carroll.

A gifted craftswoman, Ginny's artistry was both a passion and a legacy. Her exquisite needlepoint wedding purses are treasured heirlooms among sisters, daughters, nieces and friends, each one reflecting her meticulous eye for detail and the recipient's unique personality. Her needlework extended beyond the personal to the sacred, with her creations gracing Our Lady of Lourdes Church in University City and the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis.

Ginny's talents also found expression in her many needlepoint belts, intricate ornaments and stunning quilts-works that now adorn the homes of family and friends and serve as lasting reminders of her creativity, generosity and love.

Ginny's discerning eye for beauty shaped every aspect of her life-from her work with the St. Louis Art Museum and the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, to the beautiful home she created and her gift for interior design, which she shared freely with friends and family. Though dementia marked her later years, Ginny's feisty spirit continued to shine through, reminding all who knew her of her strength and resilience. She will be remembered not only for her artistic gifts, but for her strong faith, wicked sense of humor, love of learning and the arts and her deep devotion to her family, her broad network of friends and her community.

A celebration of Ginny's life will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Brain Foundation or the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, both of which support vital research into dementia and other brain conditions.