Virginia R. Batterbee

Virginia “Ginger” Rose Batterbee, age 94, our faithful, dedicated, loving, and giving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Monday, June 19, 2023.

She was born on August 23, 1928, in Sanilac County, Michigan to Delbert & Roselphia (Kenny) Phillips. The oldest daughter of three girls, she was the “son” who milked the cows before school and did all the farm work with her dad. Virginia graduated salutatorian from Deckerville High School with the Class of 1945. She was too young to go to nursing school, so she went to Owosso Bible College for a year. She graduated from nursing school at Saginaw General Hospital in 1949. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from Saginaw Valley State University in 1977 while working full time as a nurse at the Caro Regional Center.

Noel L. Batterbee met Virginia at a Halloween party while she was in nursing school at Saginaw and they were married on November 26, 1949. Virginia worked part-time as a nurse at Deckerville and Caro Community Hospitals while her three children were growing up, then full-time at the Caro Regional Center, a position which she retired from after 29 years. She kept her license as a registered nurse for several years after she retired from the C.R.C. in order to be a volunteer camp nurse at Bay Shore and Camp Kinawind. Further, she was a licensed real estate agent from 1979-1980.

Growing up she attended and played piano for the Wheatland Missionary Church in rural Deckerville. She attended the Evangelical United Brethren Church in rural Fairgrove for several years until it burned down in the early 1960s. She then attended the United Methodist Church in Caro for a few years before moving to Fairgrove in 1965, where she has been a member of the Fairgrove UMC for 57 years! Virginia was very active in her church, serving in the United Methodist Women organization for over 60 years, serving a term as local president and 8 years as Global Concerns and Spiritual Growth Coordinator. Further, she was a Detroit Conference officer with the Volunteer in Ministry (VIM) committee for 4 years. Virginia shared her gift of music by playing the piano or the organ at every church she attended in her life. She dedicated her life God and to helping others to know God better, including raising her children to love the Lord while working full-time and going to college part-time. Virginia was an amazing person who volunteered on several mission trips all over the world, and led bible studies at the Saginaw Rescue Mission and at Satchell’s Christian Retirement Home near Caro, as well as at her church in Fairgrove and in her home. For many years she transported residents from group homes to church, too.

Virginia had an artistic flair and has completed several pen and ink drawings. She also enjoyed painting rocks with her grandkids and writing in calligraphy. She loved growing flowers and watching the Detroit Tigers! She also received awards as Volunteer of the Year at the Saginaw Rescue Mission and a clock for 500 volunteer hours there.

Virginia is survived by her children, Richard Noel (Rebecca) Batterbee, Judith Rose (Allen) Gasco, and Ellen (Fredrick) Spes; affectionately known as “Grandma Ginia” to her grandchildren: Donald (Julie) Hoffman, Thomas (Jennifer) Hoffman, Emily Rose Batterbee, Daniel (Regina) Wagner, Adam (Bethany) Batterbee, Kimberly (Kenneth) Ennis, Kathryn (Joseph) Benson, and Alicia (fiancé Corbey Homan) Gasco; 10 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; sister, Elaine Hartel of Clinton Twp, MI; and extended family and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Delbert & Roselphia Phillips; stepmother, Iva (Hulslander) Phillips; former husband, Noel Batterbee; sister, Norma Ritchie; and several brothers and sisters-in law.

Funeral services for Virginia R. Batterbee, a longtime resident of Fairgrove, will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 28, 2023, at Fairgrove United Methodist Church (5116 W. Center St, Fairgrove, MI 48733); visitation at church from 10 a.m. until the time of service. A luncheon will follow with burial at Downing Cemetery in Deckerville at 2:30 p.m.

The family would like to extend their sincere thanks and appreciation to Heritage Hill in Caro who provided loving care for Virginia the last 3 ½ years of her life.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Fairgrove United Methodist Church or United Methodist Women.