Virginia Painter

Virginia M. Painter, 95, of Willshire, Ohio, passed away at 5:45 a.m., Saturday, February 18, 2012, at Colonial Nursing Center, Rockford. She was born on April 8, 1916 in Willshire to Audi F. and Flodeltha (Straubinger) Passwater. At age 2, the family moved to Kansas for Audi's employment in the oil drilling business. Virginia would visit Willshire every summer, staying with her Straubinger grandparents at the Straubinger Hotel. It was on a visit in 1935 that she met her future husband. On August 10, 1937, she married Cleo Roy Painter, and they began a marriage of 65 years. Cleo proceeded her in death on March 21, 2002. She had lived in the Willshire area since 1939, when she moved back here from Witchita, Kansas. She was employed by the Rockford Canning Plant, GE of Decatur, and the Willshire-Parkway Public Schools. After 18 years working as a secretary in the school, she retired, and she took up her love of antiques full time. She and Cleo traveled to Florida annually buying and selling antiques. Virginia became an expert on Victorian furnishings and dolls. She gave many lectures and often displayed her large doll collection. She had been very active in the Order of the Eastern Star throughout the area, and was a Past Worthy Matron of the Willshire chapter, and then became a member of the Van Wert chapter, after Willshire and Van Wert chapters merged. She was a member of the Willshire First United Methodist Church; a past president of the Pythian Sisters; and a member of the Willshire Garden Club. She is survived by one son, Rex C. Painter of Willshire, Ohio, along with his special friend, Connie Boley of Ohio City; two granddaughters, Lara (Dirk) Scofield of San Diego, California and Rachel Painter, also of San Diego; two great granddaughters, Kelly and Holly Scofield, also of San Diego; and three sister-in-laws, Janet Painter Speelman of Scott, Ohio, Janette Crites Painter of Willshire, Ohio, and Kay Slusher Robbins. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews She will be deeply missed by friends and family, both far and wide. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, February 23, 2012, at 10:30 a.m. at Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home in Rockford, Ohio, with Pastor Bud Larrimore and Pastor John Goodwin officiating. Burial will be in Willshire Cemetery, Willshire, Ohio. Friends may call at the funeral home on Wednesday from 2:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. and on Thursday, one hour prior to the service. The Van Wert Chapter of Eastern Stars will hold a service on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to State of the Heart Hospice, Coldwater, Ohio