Virginia Martin

Virginia Elizabeth (Greer) Martin of Libertyville, IL and formerly of Mt. Lebanon, PA passed away serenely on February 22, 2015. Virginia was born on December 16, 1922 in Youngstown, OH, the daughter of Frank James Greer, a loan officer and New Castle, PA native, and Edith Ables, who hailed from Williamson County, TN. Ginny was a radiant and cheerful child of the depression, with loving parents who inspired within her a Christian spirit. After graduating from Boardman High School in 1941, Virginia felt the call to care for the sick and wounded, rendering service as a nurse in the Cadet Nursing Corps during World War II while earning a degree as a registered nurse from the New Castle Hospital School of Nursing in in New Castle, PA. After the war Virginia married Charles J. Martin on December 8, 1945 at the Central Presbyterian Church, New Castle, PA, a marriage that lasted 62 years and produced four children and six grandchildren. Her nursing service continued at the New Castle Hospital, followed by stints at the St. Clair Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA and the Elmhurst Memorial Hospital in Elmhurst, IL. She eventually left nursing to focus on raising her children: Charles Joseph, Susan Diane, James Ellis and Stuart Robb. She was a wonderful mother throughout her long life and labored tirelessly to instill her Christian values into both her children and grandchildren. Ginny was beloved by all who knew her. She was possessed of an incredibly kind, trusting spirit and spent her life in pious contemplation, providing spiritual guidance and understanding for all. She was perpetually active with the church, teaching Sunday school, putting on humorous skits, and making flower arrangements for bridal showers. She was an active participant in bible study and in her endless pursuit of understanding wore out more than one bible. She radiated joy and simplicity, and had a deep connection to a more innocent time, filled with quaint and humorous songs, clever poems, and deep caring for others. She would rejoice with you when luck favored and would cry for you when misfortune struck. We all wish she were here to cry with us now. Ginny is survived by her son Charles Joseph and his wife Donna of Dexter, MI, daughter Susan Ziegeweid of Oshkosh, WI, son James and his wife Louise of Tijeras, NM, and son Stuart and his wife Martha of Hinesburg, VT. She is also survived by 6 grandchildren: Elizabeth Joy, Michael John, Kyle Finley, Cara Fiona, Lukas Tyler, and Benjamin James, all surnamed Martin. She is the last of her family ¬– and one of the last of a great generation – being predeceased by sisters Doris Zoe Greer and Elaine (Greer/Rylander) Coleman, maternal half-sister Shirley Hope (Potts) Zaremba, paternal half-brother Alfred Vaughn Greer, and maternal half-sister Iris Lois (Greer) Hillman. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27 at the Burnett-Dane Funeral Home Ltd., 120 W. Park Ave. (Route 176, one block west of Milwaukee Ave.), Libertyville. The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 28 at the funeral home with interment following at Lakeside Cemetery. Virginia will be interred next to her husband Charles J. Martin. Memorial contributions may be sent to First Presbyterian Church in Libertyville, where Ginny was a member for more than three decades.

Virginia Martin

December 16, 1922 - February 22, 2015