Virginia Woollis

Virginia Woollis 1920 - 2005 Virginia Woollis, born December 16, 1920, in Forsythe, Montana, to Joel Howard Garretson, an osteopathic physician, and May Albertina Johnson, postmistress of Forsythe, died January 5, 2005, in Mesquite, Texas. At the age of three, Virginia (Little Hurricane as she was known) moved with her parents to Salem, Iowa, to live on the Garretson family farm, which was founded in 1837 and is oldest family held farm in the state of Iowa. Virginia graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School in 1940 and then attended Iowa Wesleyan College, where she was a member of the Alpha Xi Delta Sorority.She graduated from Wesleyan in 1944 with a Bachelor's Degree in Home Economics.She later went on to get her Master's Degree in Home Economics from the University of Iowa in 1969. Virginia met Floyd Albert Woollis at the University of Iowa while taking continuing education courses, and they were married in Burlington, Iowa, on March 15, 1947.Virginia was a homemaker and Floyd practiced pharmacy in Salem until 1955, when they moved to Puerto Rico. Floyd worked as a salesman for Tropigas for seven years before opening his own company, Woollis & Co. a propane gas conversion company. Virginia taught English at the University of Puerto Rico for a number of years while raising their family; Floyd Albert, Jr. (1950), Owen Lynn (1951), John Wendall (1953), and Martina Ann (1954). In 1958 she accepted a teaching position with the United States Armed Forces at a local United States Naval Base.The base was subsequently closed and she was transferred to Antilles High School on Fort Buchanan, where she taught science, chemistry, home economics, and sex education until her retirement in1987. Virginia loved the violin, which she played from the age of ten throughout her life, including several years as violinist with the Puerto Rico Symphony. Another of her passions was attending the Casals Festival, conducted by the world-renowned Pablo Casals, which was held every year at the University of Puerto Rico.When other famous conductors were invited to conduct at the festival, she made Tina go down to the podium and get the conductor's autographs! Virginia and Floyd traveled extensively throughout the world, including trips to China, Russia, Spain, England, Wales, Australia, New Zeeland, Fiji, The Netherlands, Budapest, Turkey, Europe, South America and the Caribbean Islands surrounding Puerto Rico. Her final trip abroad was taken with her daughter, Tina, in 2003 on a cruise up the Mine River in Germany.Virginia loved to shop and each stop included a tour of the Christmas markets set up in the squares of these centuries-old towns.Virginia was particularly fond of the hand-blown glass Christmas ornaments she bought at the glass-blowing factory in Wurzberg, Germany. Virginia lived the last seven years of her life in Irving and Forney, Texas, with her daughter, Tina and her family.She also divided her time with her son, John and his family in Arlington, Texas. She traveled back to Puerto Rico in November 2004 to spend Thanksgiving with her son, Al and his family.Prior to that in October 2004, she visited Iowa and attended her brother, Joe's 80th birthday in Salem. In August 2004, she took a cruise with Tina, son-in-law, Rich and granddaughter, Stephanie to Progresso and Cozumel, Mexico and Belize. Virginia had a terrific sense of humor and kept people laughing with her stories of her life experiences.She will be missed terribly by all who knew and loved her. Virginia was preceded in death by Floyd, who died in 1997. Virginia is survived by her brother, Joel Howard, Jr., wife Joyce, daughter, Cathy, husband Dave, daughters, Sarah and Barbara, sons, Bobby and Joel Howard, III, wife Marlene, sons Justin and Kurt, late son John's sons, Drew and Eric; sister Josephine Martina Bainter, whom she adored and honored me by calling me Josie every day, husband Judge Harlan Bainter, son William, wife Sherry, daughter Kara, and son Ryan; daughter Stephany, husband Pete Carillo, sons Will and Alex; daughter Seleta, husband Jeff Thomas, daughters Josie and Nella. Virginia is survived by her children, Floyd Albert, Jr, wife Angie, and son Owen Lee and wife, Anabel; son Owen Lynn, daughters Mary Victoria Kathreen and Anna Marguerite May,and sons Evan Albert Lynn, William Christopher Kent, and Quentin Charles, son John Wendall, wife, Jeanne, sons John Jordan and Justin Charles and wife, Jill, daughter Martina Ann Greenwood, husband Richard Paul Greenwood, and daughters, Jennifer Cherie and Stephanie Marie, and most especially, Jennifer's son and Virginias great grandson, Colby Ryan Garretson Greenwood, whom Virginia loved dearly. She wouldn't want us to forget cousin Doris, with whom she also traveled and had many funny stories.She grieved over the deaths of Doris's sons Kenton, and Doris's brothers Loren and Keith.She spoke of them often. Virginia, Aunt Gigi as she was fondly known to all the cousins, will be cremated.Her ashes will be spread in Iowa at a memorial service and celebration of her life the third week of March 2005.Date and time to be announced later. Mom, we love you and already miss you terribly.We will meet again.