Viola Virginia Young

YOUNG, Viola Virginia
of Kalamazoo, Michigan Virginia, age 89, passed away on June 24th, 2014. She was born in Chickasha, OK on February 12th 1925, and was adopted by Russell Smith and Lela Goff Smith at 6 months of age. Virginia graduated high school in 1943 and progressed on for her bachelor's degree from Oklahoma College for Woman, then to get her master's degree in Social Work from Smith College. She then married William W. Young in 1952 and had her two daughters, Linda and Tami. William Young unfortunately passed away in 1971 and she continued to raise her daughters alone. She worked a full and purposeful career as a social worker. Virginia was very active in the arts community and always lit up a room with her humor and bright fashion forward clothes. She loved big band music, art, fashion, making hand paper collage, traveling, chocolates and sweets. Virginia is lovingly remembered by her daughter and son-in-law, Tamorah Sue Young and Woody Pettingell; daughter, Linda Louise Young; three grandsons, Dylan, Neebin and Besa; and her extended family of nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death were her parents and sister, Louise Jennings. There will be no public memorial service at this time. The wonderful staff at Directors Hall in Kalamazoo helped her through her struggle with Alzheimer's. If anyone would like to donate we would appreciate funds to go to the Alzheimer's Association.