Virginia Mitchell
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Virginia "Ginny" Mitchell, 89, passed away at 9:40 a.m., Friday, February 2, 2018 at Morningside of Godfrey.
Born June 19, 1928 in Memphis, TN, she was the daughter of Frank and Rachel (Tilley) Rye.
Ginny attended East Alton Elementary School and East Alton Wood River High School before attending Shurtleff College, Southern Illinois University - Alton Campus and Salem State College in Salem, Mass. earning a BS in Education and a Master's Degree in Education and Special Education. She taught in Revere, MA for two years, then Lynnfield, MA for 20 years. Half of her career was spent in the elementary grades and the remainder in Special Education for children with severe disabilities. She retired in 1982.
She had been an active church member at St. John United Church of Christ in Wood River; Friends of the Wood River Library; the Massachusetts Retired Teachers Association; had been a Girl Scout Leader; and a volunteer for many organizations.
On June 1, 1946 in Wood River, Ginny married Charles Alfred Mitchell. He died March 12, 2006.
Surviving are a daughter, Altea C. (Henry) Morriss of Naples, FL; three grandchildren, Michael (Kristen) Morriss, Mitchell Jackson, Karen Jackson; six great grandchildren, Olivia, Matthew, Sean, Diego, Annelise and Noah; son-in-law, Lawrence Jackson; brother, Jack (Elaine) Rye of Wood River; two sisters, Darlene (Jay) Miller and Nancy (William) Tierney all of Wood River; sister-in-law, Mary Rye; several nieces and nephew.
Her parents; husband; daughter, Sherry L. Jackson; grandson, Christopher Morriss preceded in death.
Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, February 7 at Marks Mortuary in Wood River where services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Thursday. Pastor Michael Southcombe will officiate.
Burial will follow in Woodland Hill Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to St. John United Church of Christ.
Remembrances of Ginny and condolences may be made at marksmortuary.com
Mark's Mortuary
