Virginia Isabella Thomas

Virginia Isabella Johnstone Thomas age 99, passed away peacefully on December 12, 2007, of causes related to age. The oldest of four children, she was born August 25, 1908 in Austin Texas, to Claude Johnstone and Charlotte Isabella McLemore.

At a young age, she and the family moved to Webster Groves, Missouri, where Virginia graduated from high school. She then went to New York, attended secretarial school, and landed a job with Margaret Mead, the noted anthropologist. She loved living in New York, and gained a life-long appreciation for the arts. She was especially interested in music, attending the theatre, ballet, symphony and opera as often as possible. Virginia played the piano, and she took singing lessons, becoming an accomplished and popular soprano soloist. She performed with her Episcopal Church choir, and in other venues, for many years. Virginia was a bona fied ''book worm'' from the day she first learned to read and she earned the equivalent of several college degrees, through her voracious reading. Because she had to support herself she worked at various jobs, eventually going to work for Ledoux and Company, in New Jersey. Ledoux and Company was in the business of analyzing minerals from all over the world, and Virginia eventually rose to the rank of Corporate Secretary, and was responsible for managing 28 men and their various divisions.

Virginia was skilled at needlepoint and has made many beautiful pictures, pillows, seat covers, and rugs, even winning first place at a state fair. She loved to travel, and was fortunate that her job required her to frequently travel abroad. Because her father was a food chemist, the preparation of food, and eating were an important part of Virginia''s family. Virginia became a gourmet cook, and helped establish a gourmet club at the retirement community where she lived.

In 1949, she married Forrest Thomas, and they lived happily together for 9 years before he passed away. Although she never had children of her own, she lavished her love and attention on her four nieces and one nephew, and their children. She was fondly called ''Aunt Ginny'' by everyone in the family. In 1999, Virginia moved from her beloved East Coast to Utah to be closer to family. She lived at Park Lane in Salt Lake, and then Barton Creek in Bountiful, before moving to Sante Assisted Living in North Salt Lake, where she passed away.

She was preceded in death by her mother, father, two sisters, and her brother. Virginia is survived by her nieces, Betty Ann (Lynn) Leasure, Toby (Bill) Forden, Sue Wilson, Carol (Jim) Ferguson, and nephew, William (Sue) Heggarty; numerous great and great-great nieces and nephews; and scores of friends. It was her wish to be cremated, and have her ashes buried next to her husband, in their beloved Nantucket Island. Her cheerful disposition, uncomplaining personality and willingness to try most things endeared her to all and her passing leaves an empty spot in her family. She will be greatly missed. Final arrangements are being handled by Lindquist''s Bountiful Mortuary.