Virgia Opal (Childress) Denton |
| Posted 2009-12-04 by Sharla |
| Arizona Silver Belt, Globe, Arizona Posted: Wednesday, Dec 2nd, 2009 Virgia Opal Denton (née Childress) passed away peacefully at home last Friday [November 27, 2009] after suffering pneumonia and complications due to a stroke. She cherished her family, loved to learn and had been a photojournalist for the Silver Belt paper in Globe in the 1970s. She volunteered many years with the Mary's Helpers organization in the Catholic Church and was active in the Ladies Auxiliary VFW and Elks Lodge. While raising her children, she enjoyed bowling, took classes in silver working and music, and loved dancing. In her later years, Virgia took great pleasure in gardening and spent many quiet hours reading. She was known to tell children and grandchildren alike to "look it up in the dictionary" when asked what something meant. She was a wonderful teacher to us all. Virgia was born Nov. 18, 1923 in Rankin, Texas, the fifth of seven children. The family later moved to Alpine, Texas in 1937 and then in 1944 she moved to Marfa, Texas with her sister where they both worked as telephone operators at Fort D. A. Russell. At the end of the war, she began attending Sul Ross State Teachers College, where she first met George, and they were later reacquainted while she was visiting her sister and brother-in-law in Small, Texas. George and Virgia married Oct. 17, 1947 and after living in Small for two years, moved to El Paso, Texas where nine of their 11 children were born. They moved to Globe in 1960, had two more boys, and spent many happy years raising their family in the little white house on First Street. Virgia spent the last four years of her life in Clarkdale, Ariz. living with her devoted daughter, Mary, and granddaughter, Bailey. Loving mother, wife, sister, grandmother, and great grandmother, she will be fondly remembered for her kindness, wisdom, quick wit, and accepting nature. Virgia is preceded in death by her husband, George Jordon Denton, Jr.; son, Thomas Augustus Denton, and great granddaughter Samantha Marie Gerring; parents, George Calbert Clark Childress and Polly Katherine Hickox; sisters, Ruby Gerald Miles, Leona Calbert McWhorter; and brothers, Leldon Alsbrook Childress, Lee Guilford Childress, and Willard Jopling Childress. She is survived by her sister, Polly Kathryn Best (Cash), of San Jose, Calif.; a cousin, Ivan Newell "Skeet" Hickox (Ruby) of Mobile, Ala.; seven sons, three daughters and their families: George Jordan III and Debra Denton of Patterson, Calif.; William Calbert and Laurie Denton of Tucson, Ariz.; Dennis Dalton and Ronna Denton of Temecula, Calif.; John Christopher Sr. and Connie Denton of Globe, Ariz.; Mary Katherine Denton of Clarkdale, Ariz.; Elizabeth Ann and Fred Gerring of Aberdeen, Md.; Patricia Virginia and Robert Blankenship of Phoenix, Ariz.; Michael Patrick Sr. and Helen Mary Denton of Sierra Vista, Ariz.; James Matthew and Melissa Denton of Phoenix, Ariz.; and Samuel David and Mary Denton of Tucson, Ariz. She has 34 grandchildren: Jeffrey (Jessica), Katrena (Gilbert), Larin (Jenny), Marshall (Alisha), George IV (Regann); Amber (Ian), Seth, Chandra (Adam); Dalton (Kyria), Daniel (Pam), Dion, Dillion (Trisha), Dale (Sheena), Dakota, Desmen; Nona (Ramon), John Jr. (Mary), Ashley (Zach); Bailey; Matthew (Livia), Jeffrey (Angela); Franklin, Catherine; Jennifer (Anthony), Michael Jr. (Sonja); Danielle (Curtis), Michael, Jeremiah, Jacob; Jasmin, Devin, Camryn, Jordan, and Dillon. In addition, she has 38 great-grandchildren: Kylee, Deliela, Neva, David, Forrest, Gilbert, Austin, LJ, Lanea, Lucas, Owen, Cole, Kadence, Cash; Autumn Moon, Shade, Lorellia, Colton; Zane, Koen, Dallas, Lily; Jeremy, Julian, Joseph, Jonathan, Jordyn, Hannah, JP, Hannah; Matilda, Zachary; William, Alexis, Joseph; Sadie, Logan, and Clara. The family would like to thank everyone for their love and support throughout these arduous times. Though we will all miss her dearly, we are happy that Virgia has gone home to our Father in Heaven, for she truly was an angel on earth. "A heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others." - L. Frank Baum Services will be held Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009 at 10 a.m. at Holy Angels Catholic Church located at 201 S. Broad St., Globe, Ariz. Father Rudy Rosales will be officiating. Pallbearers are Fred Gerring (son-in-law), Ashley Denton (granddaughter), Catherine Blankenship (granddaughter), Jeffrey Essex (grandson), George Denton IV (grandson), Seth Denton (grandson), Michael Denton Jr. (grandson), and Jeremiah Denton (grandson). A viewing will be Friday, Dec. 4, 2009 from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Miles Damron Mortuary Chapel, 237 S. Sutherland St., Globe, Ariz. A Rosary will follow, to be led by the deceased's son, Michael Denton Sr., taking place at 7:30 p.m. at Holy Angel's Catholic Church. A reception will be held at 338 S. First St., Globe, Ariz., where friends of the family are welcome to stop by any time after 4 p.m. Virgia will be laid to rest next to her late husband, George in the Elks Section of the old Globe Cemetery. The family can be contacted for questions at 928-301-0297 (please leave a message). Funeral arrangements have been made through Miles Damron of Globe, Ariz. See Also: Find A Grave |
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