Pilmer, Virginia (1921-2015)

PILMER, COHRON, GEIL, KAUGMANN, LAPPIN, LEDGERWOOD, RAINES

Posted By: Colleen J Ossman (email)
Date: 5/16/2015 at 16:39:04

May 15, 2015
The Daily Freeman Journal

Virginia Pilmer, aged 93, died on February 7, 2015. A former resident of Webster City, she most recently lived at Meramec Bluffs Senior Living Community in Ballwin, Missouri.

Mary Virginia Cohron was born September 23, 1921 to Arch Montgomery Cohron and Bernice Helen Geil in Des Moines, Iowa. She graduated from Iowa State College (now Iowa State University) with a degree in mathematics. She married Charles L. Pilmer on December 27, 1942, completed her bachelor's degree and traveled with her husband around the western United States as he completed pilot training with the Army Air Corps. She worked in the small towns where Chuck was stationed until he was deployed to Europe in 1944. Virginia then returned to her parents' home in Des Moines and gave birth to their first daughter. After Chuck returned from World War II, the family lived in Ames and Webster City, moving later to Grand Island, Nebraska, and finally to St. Louis in 1965.

A lifelong Methodist, Virginia was a former member of what is now Asbury United Methodist Church, and was an active supporter of the church wherever she lived. She taught Sunday School, participated in United Methodist Women and served on numerous committees. In addition to church activities, she was a member of PEO, serving a term as president of her chapter, and was also a volunteer and board member at Manor Grove Nursing Home in Kirkwood, Missouri.

A lifelong passion for genealogy led her to meticulously trace her family history to pre-Revolutionary War and 18th century Europe. Over several decades, she wrote hundreds of letters to distant relatives seeking information before the internet made genealogical research an easier task. She also enjoyed travel, including vacations across the U.S., as well as trips to Alaska, Hawaii, England and Israel with family and friends.

Survivors include three daughters, Suzan Kaufmann of Berkeley, California, Ellen Lappin (Ray) of Deer Lodge, Montana, and Betsy Pilmer of Chicago; two granddaughters, Dr. Alison Ledgerwood of Sacramento, and Traci Raines (James) of Great Falls, Montana, great-grandchildren Halden and Laney Raines, sister-in-law Mayme Cohron of Atlantic, Iowa, one nephew, four nieces, and many friends. She was preceded in death by Charles, her husband of 70 years (2013), infant daughter Nancy, her parents, and brother and sister-in-law, Donald and Ardath Cohron.

A memorial service was held on February 14, 2015, in the Meramec Bluffs Chapel. Burial of ashes for both Virginia and Charles has taken place at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. This summer, ashes will also be buried in the Norwalk, Iowa Cemetery, where many generations of their families have been laid to rest.