With family gathered around her all day, celebrating a wonderfully full life with laughter, tears and lots of stories, the spirit of Virginia Florence Blasingame, 91, passed from this Earth on Sunday, July 5, 2015.
Family will receive friends for visitation at noon on Wednesday, July 8, at Greenview Funeral Home in Florence. The service will begin at 2pm, with burial to follow at Cloverdale Church of Christ cemetery, Perry Taylor officiating.
Virginia was a life-long member of the Church of Christ, beginning with being on the very first cradle roll at the then-new Sherrod Avenue Church of Christ. Both she and her husband, James, did more than take their children to church, they lived their lives as Christian examples.
Spoiled first by her mother and then her husband, Virginia was occasionally wrong, but never in doubt. As a force of nature, resisting her limitless love, hugs and kisses was futile. Virginia was the best cook on the planet, especially German chocolate cake, biscuit pudding and knee-deep banana pudding. If you ever left her house hungry, or with an unsatisfied sweet tooth, that was on you.
Virginia loved to work, but the two jobs she was most proud of were her 10-year perfect attendance, always-on-time tenure as an operator with Illinois Bell (manual boards), and helping her husband and sons run the Huntsville Municipal Railway. It never occurred to her that she couldn’t do something. All along the way she was a homemaker for a large family.
Always busy and doing for others, she crocheted hundreds of stocking caps, scarves and shawls, most of which she gave to cancer centers for their patients. She sent so many sets to St. Jude in Memphis, that when her health caused her to slow down, she received a letter about their concern for her. If you ever met her, she would ask a trick question, “What’s your favorite color?” With your answer, she would disappear to her sewing room, or go to the trunk of her car, and present you with a cap and scarf very near to your color (including camouflage), of which you would be compelled to become the proud owner, complete with plastic storage bag.
She is predeceased by her husband of 62 years, James, parents, Virgil and Annie Stults, brother, Jake Stults and sister, Kathleen Garrett.
She is survived by five children and 14 grandchildren: Daughter, Linda Shelton (David), and grandchildren Trish Barnett, Veronica Olive, Kevin Roberson, & Paige Creasy; Son, Jim Blasingame (Davonna) and grandchildren, Jenny Skipworth and Craig Blasingame; Daughter, Sandra Blasingame McCollister (Joe), and grandchildren Brittney Aycock and Joseph McCollister; Son, Joey Blasingame (Pam), and grandchildren: Heath Blasingame, Summer Blasingame, Lake Blasingame and Rivers Blasingame; Son, John Blasingame (Cristi), and grandchildren: Jacob Blasingame and Justin Blasingame. She is also survived by 15 great-grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren.
Pallbearers are grandsons: Kevin Roberson, Craig Blasingame, Joseph McCollister, Heath Blasingame, Lake Blasingame, Rivers Blasingame, Jacob Blasingame and Justin Blasingame.
The family wishes to thank superphysician, Dr. Dorene Morris, the guardian angels at Green Oaks Inn, the special people at Mitchell-Hollingsworth, and all of her loving Cloverdale family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the selfless servants at Cloverdale Volunteer Fire Dept. and Underwood/Petersville Volunteer Fire Department.
