Virginia Alice Lesser

Virginia Alice Lesser, age 91, passed away surrounded by her family on Sunday, March 15, 2009 at the Midland Hospice House in Topeka, Kansas. She was born February 13, 1918 in Topeka, the daughter of William M. and Blanche (Cox) Jenkins. She grew up on a farm in the Grantville community and attended Grantville Grade School. When the family moved to the Shorey community of North Topeka, she attended Seaman High School, graduating in 1934.

She married Ernest L. Lesser on March 28, 1936. They moved to their first home in the Jay Street neighborhood of North Topeka. Virginia was involved in her children's school and numerous community activities including the "Jay Street Club", a neighborhood ladies' card and social organization. Even when all the families had moved away from Jay Street, the group continued to meet for over 40 years.

In 1951, when their home was devastated by the flood, the family moved north to the Rochester community. Soon after, Ernie retired from Santa Fe, and he and Virginia owned and operated Lesser Electric, Inc. until their sons purchased the business in 1970.

Virginia also worked as a legal secretary for the Lillard, Edson, Lewis and Porter law firm and later for the Gene McKinney law firm. An accomplished typist, Virginia continued to type dictated depositions in her home for a Topeka court reporter for over 30 years.

In 1970 Ernie and Virginia built a home in Grantville near the farm where she grew up. Virginia was an active member of the Grantville United Methodist Church. She was president of the United Methodist Women and served on many committees and boards. Virginia was a student of the bible and taught the Menninger Bible Study at Northland Christian Church and in her home for eight years. She was known in the community for her exquisite embroidery work and quilting. For many years, she hand quilted the quilts embroidered by the women of the church for the annual church dinner and raffle. Virginia's family and friends treasure her embroidered or cross stitched hand quilted works of art.








Ernest Lesser died in 1991 and Virginia moved back to Topeka to live with her daughter and husband. She continued her volunteer work in Grantville by quilting and making food for church events. Her popular coconut pie was featured in "Cook of the Week" in the Capital Journal.

Virginia was preceded in death by her daughter, Sharlyn Wallace on February 16, 2009. She is survived by her son-in-law, Dan Wallace, and two sons, William "Bill" Lesser (Vicki) and Darryl "Dode" Lesser (Elsie). Also surviving are Bill's children: Laura DelToro (Felix) and children, William and Amanda of Hoyt; Lisa Lesser and Christa Yingling (Brandon) and children Jaidyn and Brooklyn all of Topeka. Dode's children are Michael Lesser (Erin) and children, Lauren, Ashley, Dylan and Parker of Topeka and Tiffany Swinehart (David) of Kansas City, MO. Virginia is also survived by two cousins, Pauline Cox Brown Pfuetze of Sabetha and Helen Cool Murphy of Alexandria, Virginia.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 AM, Wednesday, March 18, 2009, at the Grantville United Methodist Church. Interment in Grantville Cemetery. Virginia will lie in state after 3:30 PM, Tuesday, at Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel, 245 NW Independence, where the family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to Midland Hospice Care, 200 SW Frazier Circle, Topeka, Kansas 66606-2800.