Virginia Meyer

Virginia Lee Meyer died peacefully in her sleep on Monday, January 29, 2024, at the age of 86. The family will receive visitors at Fry-Smith Funeral Home in Tuscola, on Sunday, February 4, from 2-4 p.m. Funeral services are scheduled for Monday, February 5, 2024, at 10 a.m. at the Lawn Church of Christ. She will be laid to rest at the Texas National Veterans Cemetery after a 1 p.m. committal ceremony.

Virginia was born on June 20, 1937, to Lucille and Bernard Downs, in Grant County, Indiana, the fourth of nine children. A country girl from a young age, Virginia preferred being outside, on a tractor in the fields with her Daddy and brothers doing farm chores. Unless there was a baby to be held and cared for, and then she would enjoy being indoors.

Virginia graduated from Graysville High School in 1955. She was class Valedictorian, a cheerleader, and band member, playing a sousaphone that was bigger than she was. She joined the army in 1957, and at her first duty station, Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, she soon met the love of her life. She married Roy Meyer on October 9, 1959, where she became "Ginny" to her new friends and family, although she would always be little "Squirt" to Roy.

Virginia gave birth to six children from 1960 to 1979. She was loved by her children and adored by her 10 grandchildren. She was wife, mom and grandma and each role gave her tremendous happiness. She was thrilled to hold her first great grandchild this past summer.

Nursing was her vocation, Labor and Delivery was her calling, which she lived out working in hospitals in California, Arkansas, Virginia, and Texas. She could hardly go anywhere without someone stopping her to say, "You helped deliver my son/daughter." This brought her immense joy. Many of her co-workers from St. Mary's Hospital in Richmond, Virginia, and Hendrick Hospital in Abilene, Texas remained lifelong friends. Known as the Little General, she retired in 2009 after 50 years of nursing.

She loved to travel, eagerly hopping in her car to drive hours just to see family. Wherever there were siblings, children, or grandchildren. . . Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Indiana were just a few of her favorites. When she wasn't traveling, she would be planning the next trip. She even got her sea legs when she discovered Nursing Education Cruises, and she went every time she could.

Virginia loved her church family at Lawn Church of Christ and was happily part of their lives over the past 25 years as preacher's wife, elder's wife, friend, fellow worker, Bible class teacher, and maker of tapioca and angel food cake for the many potluck dinners.

Virginia is survived by her loving husband of 64 years, Roy Meyer; Children, Judy (Shane) Preston of Tuttle, Oklahoma; Jan Meyer of Tuscola; Rob (Cheryl) Meyer of Grand Rapids, Michigan; Jeanne (Brendon) Holt, of Tucson, Arizona; Craig Meyer, of Littleton, Colorado; and Kelly (Laura) Meyer of Hutto, Texas; ten grandchildren, Adam Meyer, James (Tabea) Meyer, Deborah (Mason) Swider, Mary Meyer, Breanna Holt, Braelyn (Eric) Watson, Caleb Preston, Rebekah Preston, Ruby Meyer, Roxy Meyer, great granddaughter, Emelia Swider, her sisters Judy (Clyde) Taylor, of Nashville, Tennessee, and Margaret Downs, of Terre Haute, Indiana, her sisters-in-law Betty Downs, Ruth Downs and Linda Downs and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and six of her eight siblings; Carolyn Albertson, Joseph Downs, Richard Downs, Susan Siegel, Daniel Downs, Cheryl Downs; her nephew, David Downs and a dear cousin, Beverly Pascual.

Special thanks to Dr. Jose Vega, the staff at Hendrick Cancer Center, and the Hendrick Hospice team for the way they honored and cared for Virginia over the past 5 years. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made in her honor to Cherokee Home For Children, 1335 TX-16, Cherokee, Texas 76832; (325) 622-4201; www.chc4kids.org