Virginia Belle (Bolliger) West

WASHINGTON – Virginia Belle (Bolliger) West, 87, of Washington passed away peacefully at her home on Friday, February 12, 2010. Virginia was born August 27, 1922 in Peoria to Matthew K. and Esther M. Campbell Bolliger, and was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Margaret Ann Wilson. She graduated from Woodruff High School. She married Harold B. West II on October 2, 1941 at Glen Oak Christian Church in Peoria. He survives. The true treasures of her life were her loving husband of 68 years and the family who cherished her. She was the proud mother of three children, Harold B. West III of Carlton, KY, Arlen C. (and Jenni) West of Peoria, IL, and Jeannine (and Dick) Davenport of Osage Beach, MO. She was the beloved matriarch to seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews. Gin had numerous interests and activities in which she was involved. She was an avid dancer. Ginny and her husband Harold loved to go ballroom dancing. She also had impeccable fashion sense and modeled for many charity benefits. Because of the many fashionable hats she owned and was known to wear, Virginia often was asked to give hat shows entitled, “Virginia’s Hats.” As an active member of her community, Virginia also “wore many hats” as she was a Den mother and a charter member of Christ Church in Germantown Hills, where she taught Bible School and Sunday School. She was the first woman to ever serve on the Germantown Hills School Board. As a business partner with her husband for 65 years at West Meats and Locker, she was a member of the Illinois Meat Processors Association and the American Meat Processors Association. Gin belonged to the Peoria Woman’s Club, the Cotillion Club, the Caper Club, the Washington Garden Club, and was a former member of the Creve Coeur Club. Additionally, she was a 50-year member of the Peoria Bowling Association. Among her many hobbies, she also enjoyed sewing, dancing, singing, interior design and gardening. Virginia’s family will remember her for her infectious laughter, her enormous love for children and family, her beautiful singing and her passion for making things beautiful, for her loving kindness and sweet kisses, for her strength and pride in being a wife, mother and homemaker. Most especially, Virginia had a gift for loving others well and will always be remembered for her affectionate way of showing those in her life just how much she adored them. A memorial service will be at 11 am Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at Deiters Funeral Home and Crematory in Washington. Visitation will be one hour prior to services. Cremation rites will be accorded.

Virginia Belle (Bolliger) West

August 27, 1922 - February 12, 2010