Virginia R. Whitten

Virginia Rae Ginnie Whitten passed away peacefully at Hospice of Northwest Ohio Wednesday, February 6, 2013. She was born November 10, 1930, to Richard and Frances Elder Lippincott in Youngstown, Ohio. She graduated from South High school in Youngstown and attended Youngstown State University. She married Frank Edmund Whitten Jr. July 1, 1950 and moved with him to South Carolina and California while he was in the Navy, returning to Youngstown after his discharge. In 1981, after raising their family, which included several foster children, they moved to the warm climate of Oviedo, Florida. Ginnie returned north, to Toledo, after her husbands death in 1991. Ginnie enjoyed working with numbers and was employed as a bookkeeper for various agencies and businesses before entering into business partnerships with her husband. In the Youngstown area, they owned franchises of a service station and a restaurant, which allowed them to work together and provided early employment opportunities for their children. Upon her arrival to Toledo, Ginnie became a professional volunteer, starting grief support groups, leading and participating in many faith-based service activities through Christ and Fairgreen Presbyterian Churches, Huntington Community Center in Sylvania, Love Inc. and Interfaith Hospitality Network to name a few. More recently, as a resident of Browning Masonic Community, which she loved, her volunteer efforts had been focused on enriching the lives of fellow residents, by advocating for Browning Station, a resident and family recreation space, acquisition of a saltwater aquarium and being one of the founders of the Sew and Sews, an award winning group of creative residents that handcraft stuffed love animals which have spread love and happiness to children throughout the world. In addition to her love for God and people, Ginnie was an avid reader, enjoyed travel, from camping to cruises, and was always up for a game of cards, particularly enjoying Pinochle and Hand Foot. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Frank, and two sons, David Ross infant and Thomas Edmund Whitten. She is survived by two sons Richard Frank Shari Whitten of Transfer, Pennsylvania and David Randall Ruth Whitten of Paris, Ohio, a daughter, Dorothy William Crissman of Toledo, daughter-in-law, Kimberly Whitten of Elverson, Pennsylvania; and 7 grandchildren. Ginnies family would like to express their gratitude to the staff at Browning Masonic Community and Hospice of Northwest Ohio for their kindness and care. Ginnies life will be celebrated with a service held in Harmony Hall at Browning Masonic Community, 8883 Browning Dr., Waterville, OH on Monday, Feb. 18 at 1:00 p.m. with Rev. Stephen Rath of Waterville United Methodist Church, where she was a member, officiating. Friends will be received beginning at noon. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Pathways at Browning, 8883 Browning Dr., Waterville, OH. Condolences for the family may be offered online at walkerfuneralhomes.com.