Virginia T. Shoemaker

Entered Into Eternal Rest January 4, 2015 SHOEMAKER Virginia T. Shoemaker of Columbus, Ohio died Sunday January 4, 2015 at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. She was preceded in death by her husband Jack, to whom she was married 57 years. Also preceding her death were her parents, Frank and Ruth Taggart, sister, Mary Deetz and brother, Frank Taggart III. She is survived by her three children, son, Ronald J. Shoemaker of Arlington, Virginia, daughter, Suzanne Simpson (Martin) of Spokane, Washington and Judy Edwards (Larry) of Centennial, Colorado. She was the loving grandmother to six grandchildren, Bronwyn Worthington (Robert), Jessica Johnson (Cory), Arthur Simpson (Rachael) and William Simpson (Dana), Elizabeth Fielden and Mark Edwards. She also has five great grandchildren, David Worthington, Claire Worthington, Derartu, Eden and Maya Johnson. She is also survived by Dorothy Taggart and Diane Gibson {Billy), Bob (Diane), Tom (Sonia) and Gary (Jennifer) Deetz and Arlene, Kent and Craig (Jane) Shoemaker plus many nieces, nephews and friends. Virginia (Ginny) graduated from Wooster High School and The Ohio State University with a degree in elementary education. Her graduate work was completed at Capital University with a certification in both reading and computer science. Throughout her life, she greatly enjoyed working with children and served as a scout leader, Sunday school and vacation church school teacher. She had a teaching career of 30 years with The Columbus Public Schools. The last 12 years as of her career, she was an instrumental member of the CLEAR program, using computers, activity centers and ecological pond to help motivate reluctant readers. She won a grant to develop a phonics program for beginning readers. She used some of the material from this program to teach reading on “WBNS TV” during “Schools Without Schools.” Upon retirement in 1990, she volunteered as a teacher at North High School Educational Center where she taught English as a second language. She also volunteered in several interest groups of Clintonville Woman’s Club along with other active groups, Delta Delta Delta @ OSU, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Twig, Junior Symphony, Methodist Women and numerous charities. She served as president of Clintonville Woman’s Club in 1997 and 1998 and as chairman of the board of trustees from 2001 to 2006. Ginny was a long time loving caregiver for her husband Jack for 25 years as well as serving as a caregiver for her own mother, Ruth, and Jack’s mother also named Ruth. She was passionate about the arts. Ginny was a painter, predominately practicing in the medium of oil paint. In 1994 she established an oil painting group called “The Rembrandts” which she instructed for 17 years. She was an avid bridge player and became active in duplicate bridge at The Columbus Bridge Center where she met Dr. E. Thomas Boles who became her bridge partner and close friend. For many years she was an active member of Maple Grove United Methodist Church, 7 West Henderson Rd., Columbus, Ohio where the funeral service will held 10:30a.m. on Monday, January 12th. The Rev. Glenn Schwerdtfeger will be officiating. Family will receive friends from 1-4 p.m. Sunday January 11th at RUTHERFORD-CORBIN FUNERAL HOME, WORTHINGTON CHAPEL, 515 High St. Worthington. Contributions may be made to Clintonville Woman’s Club, 3951 North High Street Columbus, Ohio 43214 in Ginny’s memory.