Virginia Burgess

Virginia (Ginny) Burgess, a long-time resident of Lebanon, passed while at Hope Hospice House in Ft. Myers on December 4, 2014, following a brief illness. Ginny was born in Chestertown, Maryland, on January 6, 1917, to Walter C. and Mary Agnes Mulford Copper, who died in the flu epidemic in 1918. As a young child, Ginny moved with her family to Indiana, first to Crawfordsville and then to Lebanon, where she graduated from Lebanon High School, after which she married George M. Burgess of Lebanon at United Methodist Church on September 5, 1937. Ginny and George (1916-1982) also lived in Chicago, Illinois; Lafayette, Indiana; Wichita, Kansas; Rochester, New York; and Ft. Myers Beach, Florida, where they retired in 1982. George died soon thereafter on March 2, 1982. Ginny continued to reside on Ft. Myers Beach where, for the next 32 years, she lived independently among her many friends at Dolphin Watch Condominium and was an active member and volunteer at the Chapel by the Sea Presbyterian Church. During this time, Ginny earned her certificate as a clown, and for many years appeared as the clown of choice at birthday parties and other celebrations on Estero Island. She also hosted annual visits from "up north" friends and relatives and was engaged in the lives of her son and grandchildren and dozens of nieces and nephews and their children. Her calendar was filled with birthdays and anniversaries and her desk was stuffed with Hallmark cards, ready to be mailed. Ginny was a homemaker during her child-rearing years and engaged as a community volunteer throughout her life – working primarily with young people in programs sponsored by public schools, the church or YWCA. During "busy seasons" she also worked part-time in women’s wear retail in Lebanon and Lafayette, Indiana. She loved being around young people. Ginny is survived by her son, Philip M. Burgess, who resides in Annapolis, Maryland, with his wife, Mary Sue, and three adult children – David in Columbus, Ohio, and Katie and Ben who reside in Washington, D.C. She was preceded in death by her sister, Katherine and her brothers, Rudy and Charles; she is survived by brother Walter, an Indiana snowbird who winters in Ft. Myers. Memorial services will be held in the Powell Chapel at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lebanon on March 28, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. Myers Mortuary is handling the local arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to her church, Chapel by the Sea, 100 Chapel Street, P.O. Box 2997, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 or to Hope Hospice House, 9570 HealthPark Circle, Fort Myers, Florida 33908.

Virginia Burgess

January 6, 1917 - December 4, 2014