Virginia Lee "Ginny" Meyers Laughlin, 86, died Monday, Sept. 14, 2009, at Ashford Place Health Campus, where she had resided for more than four years. She was loved and cherished by her family.
She was born July 9, 1923, in Newport, Ky., and spent her childhood in Cincinnati, Ohio. She was the daughter of Oliver and Elizabeth Meyers. She married Charles Bernard Laughlin on Nov. 22, 1948, who preceded her in death on Feb. 5, 1988.
Mrs. Laughlin was mother to Ronald Laughlin (wife, Candie), Thomas Laughlin (wife, Pam), Maryann Laughlin (husband, Dan Bordessa), Janet Schrumpf (husband, Steve) and John Laughlin (wife, Heather). She was grandmother to Scott, Christy, Nathan, Becky, Neil, Brady, Trinika, Trevor, Kyle, Carlyn and Ruby. Her great-grandchildren are Ashley, Logan, Mackenzie, Marissa, Melanie and Rowan.
She was preceded in death last year by her grandson, Neil, who she always called her friend. She also was preceded in death by her siblings, Harvey Meyers, Dorothy Averbeck and Robert Meyers.
After graduating from Good Samaritan School of Nursing in Cincinnati, she was a licensed registered nurse for 60 years. She served in the U.S. Army during World War II at Fort Benjamin Harrison, where she compassionately cared for the injured soldiers returning from the war. After moving to Shelbyville, she spent many years caring for the people of Shelby County. She worked at Major Hospital, as well as the Heritage House Convalescent Center, where she was director of nursing for many years. She taught qualified medical assistant classes for Ivy Tech and the Blue River Vocational School.
After retiring from the Heritage House, she traveled as a consultant, lending her expertise to nursing homes around the state. She was recognized for her dedication by receiving the Indiana Nurse of the Year award. There are many nurses who credit her with mentoring them into their chosen profession.
She volunteered with Hospice and the gift shop at Major Hospital for 10 years after completely retiring from nursing.
Mrs. Laughlin was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Daughters of Isabella, American Legion and the American Red Cross, for which she previously served on the board of directors and taught home health-care classes.
She loved yellow flowers.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, with the recited rosary at 3:30 p.m., at Murphy-Parks Funeral Service, 703 S. Harrison St.
A Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Joseph Catholic Church.
Burial will be in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.
The family requests that donations be made to Hospice of Shelby County or the Virginia Laughlin Nursing Scholarship in care of Blue River Community Foundation
An online guest book can be signed at www.murphy-parks.com.
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