Virginia Ruth Girkins Black

Virginia Ruth Girkins Black passed away peacefully at the age of 98 on August 25th, 2018 at Sunset Retirement Home in Toledo. She was born at Flower Hospital in July 1920, the daughter of Ralph Curtis Girkins, Sr. and Ruth (Cummings) Girkins. Ginny lived all but one year of her life in Toledo, growing up on Hollywood Avenue and proudly graduating from Scott High School in 1938. In September 1938, Ginny’s father encouraged her to pursue a college education by providing the $50 to register as a freshman at Toledo University. While academically strong, it was her organizational and leadership skills that were honed as she was twice elected president of her sorority (Alpha Omicron Pi), was editor of the Society Page for the campus newspaper, The Collegian, and was elected to “Peppers” (later Mortar Board National Collegiate Honor Society). Upon graduation Ginny was recognized in Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. On campus she also met her future husband, Arthur H. Black, who was an undergraduate chemistry major and later, graduate student. Following graduation Ginny became a 4th grade teacher at Mt. Vernon School in Adams Township and also worked in the Men’s Clothing Department at LaSalle’s in Downtown Toledo. She became a bride in January 1945 while Art was on leave from the Navy and joined him in Oakland, CA later that summer as he recovered from injuries sustained from a kamikaze attack off Okinawa that April. Returning to Toledo in 1946 when Art received a teaching appointment at T.U., they moved into the newly built faculty housing project (Nashville) on campus. They lived there until their first born, Jeffrey Arthur, arrived in 1947; after which they moved to West Toledo. Ginny would live in West Toledo the rest of her life, nurturing two additional sons, Curtis and James. During that time, she also taught at Ottawa Hills Elementary School and was active in many organizations, rising to leadership roles in most of them. Her leadership roles included being president of the Toledo Chapter of the Child Conservation League (CCL), the University of Toledo Women’s Club, Flower Hospital Women’s Auxiliary, and The University of Toledo Golden Alumni Society. She also proudly served on the University of Toledo Beautification Committee that encouraged the development of Centennial Mall. The leadership role she most cherished was being elected President of the State Chapter of P.E.O., a philanthropic educational organization dedicated to encouraging and supporting women pursuing higher education. This year marks her 60th year as a P.E.O. member. Ginny also served her church in various leadership roles, initially Washington Congregational Church, then Pilgrim Congregational Church/United Church of Christ, and most recently, Sylvania UCC. Very spiritually motivated, Ginny was involved in many Bible study groups and in her 80’s, studied to become a Stephen’s Minister. Ginny was an avid reader, a supporter of the arts, a cinephile, and was always ready for a game of bridge. She is survived by sons, Curtis (Marilyn) and James (Kimberley); sister-in-law Sue Girkins; daughter-in-law Lee Hillenmeyer Black; grandchildren Jessica (Michael) Rowlands, Melissa (Zack Schwickert) Black, Andrew (Elizabeth) Black, Rachel (Travis) Cross, Natalie Black, Avery Black, Nicole (Shaun) Tremba; as well as seven great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Ginny was predeceased by her parents, brother Ralph, Jr., son Jeffrey, former daughter-in-law Ljubica Black, and husband of 55 years, Art. Visitation with family will be held from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. on Sunday, September 2nd at Walker Funeral Home 5155 Sylvania Ave (west of Corey Rd) . Memorial services will be held at Sylvania United Church of Christ at 11AM on Monday, September 3rd. Interment will be private. Memorial gifts may be directed to the Arthur H. Black Professorship Fund at The University of Toledo Foundation [Fund #1301088], the PEO Foundation/J Bradshaw Fund [#7021], or the Sunset Retirement Communities (Employee Appreciation Fund). The family wishes to express its most sincere gratitude to the caregivers, and the administrative, support and service staffs at the Woodlands, Sunset House and Ashanti Hospice for the loving care shown to Ginny over the last nine years.