Virginia Knox Cato Bouldin “Ginny” passed away peacefully at home in Huntsville, Alabama on Feb. 19, 2025, at the age of 88 after a long battle with cancer.
Ginny was born in Birmingham, Alabama on Dec. 15, 1936, to Lewis Knox Cato and Johnnie Pearl Jenkins Cato. She had one sister, Bettie Louise Cato Hicks. After graduating from Ramsey High School, Ginny earned her bachelor’s degree in education at the University of Alabama. Ginny was honored to be a cheerleader, selected as a Corolla Beauty, and a proud Alpha Delta Pi Sorority member. She married Walter Virgil Bouldin on February 1, 1958, in Birmingham, Alabama and they both went straight to graduate school at Duke University. Ginny pursued and earned her master’s in education and began her family in Durham, North Carolina. Ginny and Walter relocated to Nashville, Tennessee for four years before settling in Huntsville in 1966.
Over the years, Ginny was involved in many civic organizations, including the Junior League in Durham, Nashville, and Huntsville. She was also a member of the Grace Club Auxiliary, Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Guild, and the Stephens Ministry at First Presbyterian Church.
Ginny was an athlete and competitor her whole life. Growing up, she was a ballerina, taught dance, and performed with the Birmingham Ballet. Later in life, after having children Ginny took up tennis, was a founding member of the Huntsville Women’s Tennis Association and held the office of president. Ginny earned an Alabama state tennis ranking as a Junior Vet at 35 years old. When Ginny learned to play golf, she pursued that with gusto as well and was a member of Huntsville Country Club, the Ledges, and was honored to be made president of the Valley Hill Women’s Golf Association. Ever the competitor, Ginny became heavily involved in the duplicate bridge community and ultimately achieved Gold Life Master Status, which involved extensive regional and national tournament play.
Ginny was an avid reader and founded the Athena Book Club, a sister book club to the Alea Book Club from Birmingham that has been meeting since the early 1990s. Ginny and Walter, along with many of their dear friends, have been meeting monthly for a supper club they began in 1967.
In addition to being a full-time mother of four, Ginny wore many occupational hats. She tutored neighborhood children in reading using a “new“ learning method called Hooked on Phonics, substituted at local schools, and gave youth tennis lessons. Ginny was also a Brownie and a Girl Scout Leader. She earned her Real Estate license and sold homes, became a Paralegal, and also earned her broker’s license in finance and founded an
investment club.
Ginny is survived by her husband of 67 years, Walter Virgil Bouldin, daughter Virginia Cato Bouldin, son Walter Virgil Bouldin Jr, and spouse Melissa (Pickens), Louise Knox Bouldin Carter, and spouse Brian. Ginny is also survived by her loving grandchildren, Walter Virgil Bouldin III, Leon Nox Artemis nee Olivia Donovan Bouldin, Virginia Louise Carter, Brian Russell Carter Jr, John Bouldin “Jack” Carter, and Lewis Henry Carter.
Ginny was preceded in death by her parents, Lewis Knox and Johnnie Pearl Cato, her sister Bettie Louise Cato Hicks, and her daughter, Elizabeth Donovan Bouldin Casamayor.
Visitation is Monday, February 24 beginning at 1:15 pm followed by a 1:45 service at First Presbyterian Church at 307 Gates Ave SE, in Huntsville, Alabama.
In Lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra CLICK HERE TO DONATE or other charity of choice.
