Lived on a dairy and poultry farm south of Ava Virginia Addy, daughter of Odell Thomas Martin and Haddie S. Robbs Martin, was born on June 12, 1921 in Gaffney, S.C., and departed this life on Dec. 25, 2007 in Springfield, at the age of 86 years, 6 months and 13 days.
Eileen Virginia Martin Addy grew up in Gaffney, S.C. She secretly married Frank L. Addy Jr. at age 17 and kept the secret until after she had graduated. She and Frank were united in marriage on April 15, 1939 in York, S.C., and to this union they were blessed with a daughter. When World War II started and Frank enlisted, she also immediately enlisted to be with Frank as the war would allow. She enlisted in the WAAC and reached the rank of staff sergeant. She returned from World War II and received an honorable discharge in October 1945. After the war, she and Frank both worked in Washington, D.C. and lived in Maryland. In 1952, they and their daughter moved to farm life in Ava, Missouri.
They operated a dairy and poultry farm south of Ava and like many people of the time worked off the farm. In Ava, Virginia also worked as a secretary for attorneys in the state court system and later with Kraft Foods. She later worked as clerk of court for Judges Quentin Haden and Roger Wall. She enjoyed working in the legal profession. She was a member of the Ava United Methodist Church and was busy in the choir.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Frank, and one sister, Mary White.
Virginia is survived by her daughter and husband, Shirley Addy and Dr. Fred Bouse, Fairbanks, Alaska; three grandchildren, Kimberly Socha and husband, Robert, and Christopher Addyson Bouse and Forrest Alexander Bouse both of Fairbanks, Alaska; two great-grandchildren, Kelsey Alexis and Nickolas Aaron Socha; and her half sister, Lucille Bray, Columbus, Ohio.
Service for Virginia is Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2008, at 2 p.m. in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with a visitation prior to service from 1 to 2 p.m. Interment will follow in the Ava Cemetery with full military honors by Ava American Legion Post #112 and VFW #5993.
Online condolences may be made to www.clinkingbeardfuneral home.com.
