Virginia York
(April 30, 1921 – May 11, 2011)
Virginia Maxine Huntwork was born April 30, 1921 in Terre Haute, Indiana, to Harry G. and Edna Shaw Huntwork. She graduated from Wiley High School in 1938 and attended Indiana State Teacher’s College, where she met her future husband, Maurice A. York of Stewardson, IL.
She married Maurice on July 19, 1941. Together, they were partners in York-Kull Floral Co. in Shelbyville. Virginia Street, named after Virginia York when it ran adjacent to the floral company’s gladiola fields, can still be found in Shelbyville. Virginia Street runs parallel to Fern Street, which was named after Fern Kull. Virginia and Maurice were members of the First Methodist Church (later First United Methodist Church) in Shelbyville. She was a member of the Shelbyville Chapter of Eastern Star and White Shrine of Jerusalem for 66 years.
Maurice died in 1953, and a year later Virginia returned to Terre Haute where her parents and sister lived. But she loved Shelbyville, and treasured the happy days she had spent there. Until she became ill in January of 2011, she was on the Internet every day, and her passwords almost always contained the name “Shelbyville”.
Virginia attended Methodist Temple (later United Methodist Temple) in Terre Haute and was a member until her death. Virginia touched the lives of many with her kind ways and generous heart. She made friends easily and loved being with people, She is loved and remembered by all who knew her.
She was preceded in death by Maurice; her parents; sister, Helen Louise McCoy; granddaughter, Charity Ann York; and great-grandchildren Kinsey and Ryan Vandermeer.
Virginia will be lovingly remembered by her children, Donald G. York and wife Anna of Chicago, IL; Carolyn York Vandermeer and husband Bill of Houston, TX; and Diana Wortham and husband Terry of Catawba, SC; nine grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held on Wednesday, May 18, 2011 in Terre Haute, Indiana. Interment will occur at a later date in Glenwood Cemetery in Shelbyville, IL. Local arrangements are by Howe and Yockey Funeral Home in Shelbyville.
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