Mrs. Virginia “Ginny” Thomas Key, 70, passed away Friday, Sept. 22, 2017, at her residence. A native of Dover, New Jersey, she and her husband moved from Blue Ridge, Georgia to Alabama eight years ago. She attended Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Russellville.
She graduated from California State College in Los Angeles with a B.A. degree in Psychology and from Georgia Institute of Technology with a master’s in technology and science policy. She worked for Georgia Tech, University of Maryland, Big Bend Community College, Pacific Electro Dynamics, and Boeing Aircraft. She was co-author of the U.S. Energy Standard that was adopted by six countries in Europe. While working with Georgia Tech she established and developed a program to help modernize Egyptian industry. Having retired in 2009 from Georgia Tech, “Ginny” was an avid reader and loved fishing, scuba diving, and snow skiing just to name a few of her interests. She was larger than life and will be profoundly missed.
A memorial service for Mrs. Key will be Friday, Septe. 29, 2017, at 6 p.m. at Pinkard Funeral Home Chapel, Russellville. Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Mrs. Key is survived by her beloved husband of 33 years, Charles W. Key Jr.; children, Cassandra K. Funderburk and husband, Shane, and Charles W. Key III and wife, Jaime; sister, Cathy Rawlins; and brothers, Harold Thomas and Elliott Thomas. Four grandchildren, Stephanie Malecha, Braden Key, Paxton Allen, and Dale Freeman survive her. Also surviving are nieces, Mary Beth Rawlins and Michelle Rawlins, and a grandnephew, Noah Jastrzembski.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Elliott and Eleanor Rolls Thomas.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Hospice of the Shoals, 115 Fairground Rd., Florence, AL 35630.
