135
Virginia Lee Thompson Reily of Huntsville, Alabama passed away at 5:30 AM on July 21, 2022. She went peacefully in her daughter’s arms after a brave fight against cancer. She was born on November 6, 1942 to Annie Virginia Heaton Thompson and Wiley Clayton Thompson Sr. in Montgomery, Alabama and was the oldest of three children. She is preceded in death by her parents, her younger brother Harold Thompson, and dear friend Mary Castell. She is survived by her daughters Chris Reily and Kelly Reily, her brother Wiley Thompson Jr. and his wife Jeanette, many good friends, her grand parrots Miss B., Dweezil, and Morgan, and her grand dog, Chimichurri.
Virginia Lee Thompson Reily of Huntsville, Alabama passed away at 5:30 AM on July 21, 2022. She went peacefully in her daughter’s arms after a brave fight against cancer. She was born on November 6, 1942 to Annie Virginia Heaton Thompson and Wiley Clayton Thompson Sr. in Montgomery, Alabama and was the oldest of three children. She is preceded in death by her parents, her younger brother Harold Thompson, and dear friend Mary Castell. She is survived by her daughters Chris Reily and Kelly Reily, her brother Wiley Thompson Jr. and his wife Jeanette, many good friends, her grand parrots Miss B., Dweezil, and Morgan, and her grand dog, Chimichurri.Virginia completed her BS in Math at Mississippi State in 1964. She worked for the Boll Weevil Lab in college and contributed to cotton research studies. After college she worked at IBM as a computer programmer and continued her career at Boeing and Computer Science Corporation.
When she wasn’t busy raising her daughters, she shared her love through community outreach. She spent countless hours volunteering with Christmas Charities and Chi-Ho Children’s Home, was President of Serendipity Jr. Woman’s League, and supported homeless outreach programs by providing food and compassion.
Virginia was a second mom to many people as well as creatures both great and small. She loved reading, sudoku, solitaire, bridge, bunco, cooking, and all kinds of arts and crafts. She loved to see, and even sewed her daughters’ school picture outfits, costumes, and doll clothes. She was known for her kindness and generosity. There was always an extra chair at the dinner table and nobody ever left her house hungry.
Due to allergies and sensitivities, in lieu of flowers please make donations in her honor to the Lymphoma Society or to a cause that speaks to your heart. If you feel inspired to share photos and life stories of Virginia, the family would be delighted. The family offers special thanks to Alice, Jean, Jessi, her dear Bridge and Bunco friends, those who phoned, visited, sent cards, and coworkers for their love, help, and support during the time of her illness.
A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, September 25, 2022 at Berryhill Funeral Home, 2305 North Memorial Parkway, Huntsville AL 35801. The viewing will be from 11:30-1:00 with services to follow at 1:00. The family asks that all visitors wear masks. Anyone who is showing signs of illness, or who has had a known exposure to an illness, is asked to send their love from afar to prevent risk of exposure.
