Virginia Belle Skinner
Virginia Belle Skinner, 93, Topeka, died Sunday, June 28, 2015, at Brewster Place. She was born January 22, 1922, in Topeka, the daughter of George Cowan and Mary Elsie (Stagner) Howard.
She was a life-long Topekan and graduated from Seaman High School in 1940. She attended Clark's Secretarial School. She was a devoted homemaker first, caring for her family and making quilts for her family. She and Hank collected thimbles. She worked for the State of Kansas a total of 16 years, nine years prior to her marriage and seven years after Hank's death. She later worked at Silver Lake Bank.
Virginia was a life-member of Seaman Community Church, where she was a Sunday school teacher, sang in the choir, and served on several boards, including the Memorial Committee as recording secretary for 21 years. She had served on the Florence Crittenton Board, Brewster Place Board, and Midland Hospice Board. She was a former member of Helen Chapter # 210, Order of the Eastern Star.
She married J. Henry "Hank" Skinner, on June 7, 1953. He died on December 21, 1985. She was also preceded in death by her parents; a son: George H. "Jerry" Skinner on February 27, 1980; a brother: Elmer Howard (Lucille); and a sister: Dorothy Dillon (Glen).
She is survived by a daughter: Beverly Sue Hammond (Paul) of Topeka; a son: Richard L. Skinner (Tamara) of Topeka; a daughter-in-law: Linda Skinner of Wichita; eight grandchildren: Jim Skinner, Lori Huske, Tim Skinner, Lisa Lux, Eric Milligan, Suzanne Shandy, Sara Shingler, and Erin Gwyn; eighteen great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Private family graveside services will be at Rochester Cemetery, 1200 NW Menninger Road, Topeka.
Virginia will lie in state after 3:00 PM, Thursday, at Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel, 245 NW Independence Avenue, Topeka, where the family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Shriner's Childrens Hospitals Travel Fund c/o Arab Shriners, 1305 South Kansas Avenue, Topeka, KS 66612-1332 or Charity of Donor's Choice.