Virginia Hawley Butler, 96, of Blacksburg, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018. She was born Oct. 14, 1922 in Orange County, California to the late Curtis and Blanche Hawley.
When Virginia was only 8 months old, her family traveled cross-country in a Model T Ford and settled in Virginia. Most of her childhood was spent in Prince George County and Hopewell, Virginia. There she met the love of her life, Frank Lee Butler, while both were in high school. They married in 1942 while she was attending Mary Washington College and Frank was serving as a U.S. Army Air Corps pilot in World War II. Virginia finished college in 1944, received her own pilot’s license, and moved from base to base as an Air Corps wife. After the war, Frank and Virginia moved to Wytheville, where Frank owned a Western Auto store, and Virginia taught physical education at Jackson Memorial High School. When Frank decided to use the G.I. Bill and attend college at Virginia Tech, Virginia wholeheartedly supported him, and in 1951, they moved to Blacksburg with their two young daughters. After Frank graduated, he stayed on to teach accounting, and Virginia decided to pursue her own master’s degree from Virginia Tech (1957). She then began teaching history at Virginia Tech and english at Radford University.
Virginia enjoyed attending Hokie football and basketball games with her family, watching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren play sports, spending time at Claytor Lake, Virginia, and Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, and attending church. She was a member of Blacksburg Presbyterian Church for many years where she taught Sunday school and was an Elder. She transferred to Blacksburg Christian Church in 2009 so she could be with her children. Her favorite roles in life were those of wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, as well as a friend to many.
Virginia was predeceased by her loving husband of 40 years, Frank Lee Butler; sister, Helen Hawley Turner; grandson, Frank Butler Rocovich. She is survived by daughters and sons-in-law, Bonnie and Duane Shealor of Blacksburg; Sue Ellen and John G. Rocovich, Jr. of Roanoke; grandchildren, Virginia McCoy (Tracy McCoy) and James Shealor (Meredith Shealor) of Blacksburg, Elizabeth Cline (Ben Cline) of Lexington; great-grandchildren, Morgan McCoy, Wesley McCoy, Ellie McCoy, Bennett Shealor, Brody Shealor, Sullivan Shealor all of Blacksburg, Harper Rocovich of Salem, Catherine Cline and Sarah Cline of Lexington.
The family would like to express their appreciation to Tiffany Brown who visited with Gran and gave her love and care. Their warm thanks also go to Gary McCoy, her minister, who was steadfast with his time and devotion when Gran was unable to attend church. The family will always be grateful to Dr. Cox and the second floor nursing staff at Lewis Gale Montgomery for the extraordinary care and kindness shown to Gran during her last days.
It was Virginia’s wish that a private graveside service and interment be held at Roselawn Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 3-4 p.m. today, Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019 at Blacksburg Christian Church.
It was also her wish that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to Blacksburg Christian Church (240 Watson Ave., Blacksburg, VA 24060) or to the charity of your choice.
