Virginia Martin Perry, age 102, of Salida, Colorado died July 29, 2018.
She was born October 4, 1915, the youngest of 9 children, to Lee and Alice Martin in Concord, North Carolina. She graduated from Winecoff High School where she was a star basketball player and had many close friends. Because of her extremely short haircut for the times, she was known as “Shorty Martin”. After graduation she attended Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing in Charlotte, North Carolina, graduating in 1937 as an RN. While working there she met DeWitt Perry and they were married on September 16, 1939. She spent most of her professional career as a private duty nurse at Cabarrus Memorial Hospital and volunteered there as a “Pink Pinafore” lady after retirement. Another volunteer activity she participated in was the American Red Cross.
Virginia was very active in her home church, Second Presbyterian, where she taught ladies Sunday School Class for many years, sang in the choir, and participated in ladies Circle Meetings.
Her many other passions were writing poems, solving crossword puzzles, dancing, and traveling. She traveled abroad with her family and throughout the U.S. and Canada with Christian Tours. She was a master at making friends and had a genuine love for people.
Since 2006 she has resided in Salida, Colorado with her son and daughter-in-law and was active in the Senior Center and First Presbyterian Church until her health declined.
She was preceded in death by her parents, 6 brothers and 2 sisters, and her husband, DeWitt Perry.
She is survived by her son, Martin Perry (Pam) of Salida, Colorado; her step-daughter, Joyce Sawyer (Richard) of Bullard, Texas; grandsons, Marty Perry (Susan) of Benton, Arkansas, Keith Sawyer (Cheryl) of Houston, Texas; and granddaughters, Marla Longing (Chad) of Springdale, Arkansas, and Shirley Cape (David) of Austin, Texas; 8 great grandchildren; and 2 great-great grandchildren.
A celebration of Virginia’s life will be held at Wilkinson Funeral Home, 100 Branchview Drive NE, Concord, North Carolina on August 6, 2018 at 10:00am.
Memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 7 Poncha Boulevard, Salida, Colorado and Harbor Church, 1112 South 48th St, Suite D, Springdale, Arkansas.