Everyone has a relative(sibling, aunt/uncle, cousin...) who was special to them.
I have had several in my life. Three of them will always have a special place in my heart. One was my Aunt Nunner(my mom's older sister) who passed away in 2002, then there was my Uncle Alfred(my mom's Uncle) who passed away in 2007 and then there is my Aunt Virginia, who passed away, January 29, 2024 at the age of 96.
She was special to me in that she was married to my biological dad's(Buzzy) brother(Sonny) and she was the sister of my step-father(Harry). This all sounds pretty crazy, but actually it is a sweet story. My parent's, Buzzy and Joyce, divorced when I was 4 and my sister, Terri, was ten months old.
Thanksgiving of 1958, Aunt Virginia's brother, Harry, was going through a divorce and my mother was divorced. Aunt Virginia did not want her brother or sister-in-law to spend Thanksgiving alone. Virginia invited them both to the house. She always said, "When I invited Harry and Joyce to my home, I just thought they could be friends. I never expected them to get married." Three months after my mom and Harry met each other, they went to the Court House and said their vows. The next day, my mom and step-father and Terri and I moved to Waco.
My Aunt Virginia enjoyed her life living in Dallas from the day she was born on September 19, 1927, until her death on January 29, 2024.
At the burial gravesite, the pastor talked about Virginia and her life. He talked about her 96 years of life and all she had achieved. The one phrase that struck home with me was "Virginia was born before the Empire State Building was built."
I had never looked at her life and thought of all the new inventions, creations, products, etc. that happened during her lifespan. The world has changed in 96 years. For fun, I googled "Inventions that have changed the world".
It is amazing all the items I take for granted and feel as if they have been around for ever. A few items. Sunglasses were introduced in 1929 by Sam Foster. In October 1945, America's first ballpoint pen, went on sale at Gimbel's for $12.50. Polaroid camera, went on sale for the first time in 1948. The demonstration of modern television in 1939 at the New York World's Fair. Self-winding mechanical watch - Rolex improved the idea in 1931. The helicopter made a series of successful flight tests between 1939-1941. All of these items changed the world. I wondered what she thought about all of these new discoveries.
The past thirty years, Virginia experienced computers, internet, cell phones and so much more.
On July 20th, 1969, Virginia was glued to the television, just like so many other people around the world. Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon and said, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." I wish now I would have asked her what she was thinking at the moment she saw a man walk on the moon.
A lot of history has happened during her lifetime. Many changes. Some to make her life easier and some harder.
As you can tell from her photo, she was beautiful and had a very strong personality.
Virginia's younger years were during The Great Depression(1929-1939). She didn't say much about the depression, except her father worked hard to provide for her, her mother and her brother.
When she graduated from high school, her class was one of the first graduating classes at Sunset High School. A few days after graduation, Virginia and her girlfriend took the streetcar to downtown Dallas to apply for a job at the bank. She enjoyed working at the bank for thirty-five years. She always had interesting stories of the various customers who would come to her window to make a bank transaction.
Virginia was married to Sonny for twenty-nine years before he died of a heart attack on June 5, 1976. She loved Sonny. They had shared so much together; elementary, junior high and high school, WWII, losing their 9 month old baby daughter, Linda Susan, in 1955, the death of her father and death of Sonny's father and so much more.
At the funeral, she showed very little emotions, as she knew life continued on and she had a twelve year old son, Michael Dale, who was now her total responsibility. Her oldest son, Tink, was twenty-six and had his own life.
For the next years, Virginia continued to work and provide for Michael Dale, as well as taking care of her mother, Eunice.
Retiring in her early 50's, she began to travel with friends and family and seeing America. She always spoke of fond memories of her travels.
The years ahead were not easy. She persevered through heartache in losing her youngest, Michael Dale in Novemer 2006 and her oldest, Tink in December 2013.
Auntie was a wonderful daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, cousin and friend.
Women of today talk about how women in the 1900's were puppets and were weak.
When I look at Aunt Virginia, I see a woman who faced the obtstacles in her life; she was confident; caring; comfortable in speaking her mind; didn't seek approval of others and was very strong and determined.
As you reflect on your loved ones, look at their journey and how they handled those barriers.
Because of Aunt Virginia's heartaches, she was able to comfort others.
There is a verse in 2 Corinthians 1:3 - "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."
As I grieve, may I remember all Aunt Virginia mourned throughout her life. The Lord comforted her and gave her the wisdom and direction she needed to face each day.
Rest In Peace, Auntie!
I Love You!
