Virginia
Virginia B. Witmer
Virginia B. Witmer, 86, of 1300 Valley Road, died Monday at home after a courageous thirty-year battle with Parkinson’s disease. A community volunteer, she especially enjoyed serving children. For over two decades of service to the Lancaster community, Ginny received the New Era Red Rose Award for her volunteer efforts.
At the Lancaster Day Care Center, Ginny was made a lifetime honorary board member and the welcome center is named for her. She was a member of the boards of the Demuth Foundation, the Rock Ford Foundation, and the Manos House. She was also a past president of the Lancaster Junior League.
At the Boys & Girls Club of Lancaster she helped with Toys for Tots and read to children who affectionately called her “the book lady.” She cooked thousands of cookies for the club and was a member of the club’s Dutch Uncles and Great Aunts Foundation. Ginny was recognized by the Boys & Girls Club of Lancaster as the volunteer of the year and subsequently was made an honorary board member.
Ginny was an active member of St. James Episcopal Church. She enjoyed playing tennis and golf for many years. Friends and family were incredibly important to her. Ginny was an ardent fan of chocolate, lobster, antique auctions, parties, Chinese checkers with her grandchildren, jazz, Winston Churchill and Colin Powell.
She was a graduate of Dana Hall School in Wellesley, Massachusetts and Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts. Born on July 5, 1927, she was the daughter of Virginia P. Backstrand and William E. Biggers. She also was close to her stepfather Clifford J. Backstrand. Ginny is survived by her children, two sons, Richard H. Jr. married to Jean Hudson Witmer of Greenwich, CT and Charles H. married to Meryl Buchanan Witmer of North Palm Beach, FL; two daughters, Virginia H. W. married to the Rev. Edward O. Miller, Jr. of McLean, VA and Julia Witmer Holland of Mountville, PA and nine grandchildren: Bart, Caroline, Jeannie, Andrew, Ian, Ted, Chris, David, and Alex.
She is preceded in death by two sisters, June Biggers Old and Betty Biggers Vaughn, and a granddaughter, Virginia Provost Holland.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the funeral service at St. James Episcopal Church on the corner of Orange and Duke Streets, Lancaster, PA on Saturday at 11:00 AM with the Rev. Edward O. Miller, Jr. and the Rev. David W. Peck officiating. The family will receive friends in the church chapel on Saturday from 10:00-11:00 AM.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Lancaster Day Care Center at 150 South Queen Street, Lancaster, PA 17603 or Music for Everyone at 42 North Prince Street, Lancaster, PA 17603.
At the Lancaster Day Care Center, Ginny was made a lifetime honorary board member and the welcome center is named for her. She was a member of the boards of the Demuth Foundation, the Rock Ford Foundation, and the Manos House. She was also a past president of the Lancaster Junior League.
At the Boys & Girls Club of Lancaster she helped with Toys for Tots and read to children who affectionately called her “the book lady.” She cooked thousands of cookies for the club and was a member of the club’s Dutch Uncles and Great Aunts Foundation. Ginny was recognized by the Boys & Girls Club of Lancaster as the volunteer of the year and subsequently was made an honorary board member.
Ginny was an active member of St. James Episcopal Church. She enjoyed playing tennis and golf for many years. Friends and family were incredibly important to her. Ginny was an ardent fan of chocolate, lobster, antique auctions, parties, Chinese checkers with her grandchildren, jazz, Winston Churchill and Colin Powell.
She was a graduate of Dana Hall School in Wellesley, Massachusetts and Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts. Born on July 5, 1927, she was the daughter of Virginia P. Backstrand and William E. Biggers. She also was close to her stepfather Clifford J. Backstrand. Ginny is survived by her children, two sons, Richard H. Jr. married to Jean Hudson Witmer of Greenwich, CT and Charles H. married to Meryl Buchanan Witmer of North Palm Beach, FL; two daughters, Virginia H. W. married to the Rev. Edward O. Miller, Jr. of McLean, VA and Julia Witmer Holland of Mountville, PA and nine grandchildren: Bart, Caroline, Jeannie, Andrew, Ian, Ted, Chris, David, and Alex.
She is preceded in death by two sisters, June Biggers Old and Betty Biggers Vaughn, and a granddaughter, Virginia Provost Holland.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the funeral service at St. James Episcopal Church on the corner of Orange and Duke Streets, Lancaster, PA on Saturday at 11:00 AM with the Rev. Edward O. Miller, Jr. and the Rev. David W. Peck officiating. The family will receive friends in the church chapel on Saturday from 10:00-11:00 AM.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Lancaster Day Care Center at 150 South Queen Street, Lancaster, PA 17603 or Music for Everyone at 42 North Prince Street, Lancaster, PA 17603.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Virginia B. Witmer, please visit our flower store.
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