Virginia Lee Nelson, 91, of Macomb, formerly of Hamilton, passed away on Tuesday evening, February 9, 2021, at Wesley Village in Macomb.

 

Virginia was born February 26, 1929, the daughter of Glen A. and Velma (Golden) Smith in Ft. Madison, Iowa.  She attended grade school in Niota and graduated from Nauvoo High School.  She attended Western Illinois University and graduated from Carthage College.  On August 24, 1949, she was united in marriage to Gayle L. Nelson in the First Methodist Church in Ft. Madison, Iowa.  He preceded her in death in 2015.  

 

Virginia started teaching when she was 17 years old in Niota, Il. She taught school for thirty-nine years, mostly in the Hamilton school system but also spent time in Fairview and Bushnell.  She enjoyed her years of teaching and spending time with her family.  She liked baseball, reading, playing cards and crossword puzzles.  She and her husband traveled to many different stadiums to see baseball games.  She was a long-time member of the Hamilton United Methodist Church and the Hancock County Retired Teachers Association.

 

Virginia is survived by her daughter, Gayla (Walt) Lewis of Blandinsville, Illinois; and two grandsons, Ross Lewis and Philip (Rachel) Lewis.

 

She was preceded in death by her parents; and husband, Gayle.

 

Private family services will be held at Printy Funeral Home in Hamilton with burial in Oakwood Cemetery in Hamilton.  Memorials may be directed to Wesley Village in Macomb, Illinois or the McDonough District Hospital Hospice.  Printy Funeral Home of Hamilton is in charge of arrangements.