Obituaries: Virginia (Peterson) McPhail

 

December 11, 2020

Virginia (Peterson) McPhail (aka Ginger and The Mommer) ate radishes every day for breakfast.

Ginger died Nov. 26, 2020. The beloved mother, grandmother and sister was born Aug. 26, 1936. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert, of 53 years; and one daughter, Midge. She is survived by her sister, Nancy (Andrew) McFarland; daughters Sally (Brian) O'Donnell and Jody (Thomas) Fries; son, Benjamin (Laurie) McPhail; and eight grandchildren.

The Mommer had a strong love for music and was a passionate piano player since childhood. Her prized possession was her baby grand piano given to her by her husband (the Bobber) when he negotiated the piano's purchase as part of the mortgage for their home. The piano was always a focal point for the family. In later years she and the Bobber would often finish their days around the piano singing Scottish folk songs.

Ginger was a devoted tennis player and quite skilled at bridge. She could type faster than most human beings and parlayed that skill into a long career with Blue Mountain Arts. She had a knack for getting babies to smile and animals to follow. Her strong Swedish heritage stayed with her and she never lost her taste for pickled herring, Swedish meatballs and, to her family's chagrin, lutefisk. She was a voracious reader and worked on crossword puzzles every day.

The Mommer was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2000. The disease progressed slowly but eventually robbed her skills as a piano player, typist and writer.

She never lost her sense of humor and kept her wits to the end. The world is a little darker today without her light in it. Enjoy your martinis in heaven with the Bobber. You've earned it.

A celebration of Ginger's life will be scheduled when it is safe for all to gather, tentatively scheduled for the spring. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to Capital City Hospice, whose care and compassion were by her side for the last two years. Send to Capital City Hospice, 2800 Corporate Exchange Dr., Suite 170, Columbus, OH 43231.

Pine Knot News, Dec. 11, 2020

 
 

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