Virginia McEwen

Virginia Lorene McEwen of McEwen Lane, Slippery Rock, passed away Thursday at the Orchard Manor Nursing Home, Grove City, after a four-month illness. She was 78.

Virginia, also known as “Ginner” and “Mac,” was born July 25, 1933, in Delaware Township, Mercer County. She was the youngest of eight children, all girls.

Virginia is survived by four sisters, Dorothy (Mrs. Thomas Whittingham) of Rochester, N.Y., Julia (Mrs. William Breese) of Fredonia, Marjorie (Mrs. Floyd Ryhal Jr.) of Hadley, Mercer County, and Ellen (Mrs. Charles Nye) of Portersville. In addition, she is survived by 14 nieces and nephews, 30 great-nieces and nephews, 15 great-great-nieces and nephews, and five great-great-great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John Albert and Mary Edna (Stamm) McEwen; three sisters, Mary Frances (Mrs. Belvin Bartholomew) of Greenville, Ill., Ruth Emma (in infancy) and Eileen (Mrs. William Scragg) of Youngstown, Ohio; three brothers-in-law, Floyd Ryhal Jr., Tom Whittingham and Belvin Bartholomew; and two nieces and a nephew, Lorrie Bartholomew, Julie Ann (Breese) Thomas and Mark Ryhal.

Virginia graduated from Fredonia Delaware High School in June 1951 and Sharon General Hospital Nursing School in 1954. She retired from VA Butler Healthcare in 1988 after 31 years of service. In retirement, she cared for family and friends including Ken and Ruth Armstrong, who were like family to her.

She learned hard work on the family farm, McEwen Dairy, where they milked Jersey cows and bottled and delivered the milk to the Greenville area. She enjoyed knitting, which included 300 specialized Christmas stockings, growing raspberries and many other hobbies so she could lavish gifts on others. She was known and loved by her family, nursing class friends, neighborhood friends and many others. Also important in her life was her pet, Foxy.

She had the gift of generosity, and she helped people in many ways. She will be sadly missed and the huge void with her passing will be difficult to fill.

MCEWEN — Virginia Lorene McEwen passed away Thursday, July 19, 2012. A memorial service will be announced later.Gifts in her memory can be made to Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs, CO 80995.