She had no children of her own, but she loved her nieces and nephews as if they were her own. That was our beloved Aunt Virginia "Ginny" Richey, born on December 2, 1922, in Harvey, Iowa, the daughter of Lynn Clarence and Lily Iowa (Edwards) Harvey. Ginny had an older brother, Lyle, and a younger brother, Robert “Bob”. Their mother died while the three siblings were young. Grandma Anna Harvey Parsons helped Lynn raise the children. The love and care Ginny saw in her Grandparents is reflected in her life. She found great satisfaction sharing in successes, joys and trials of those around her. Aunt Ginny was authentically and wholeheartedly there for those in her life, just as her Grandparents were.
After graduating from Harvey High School in 1941, Ginny went to beauty school and became a licensed beautician. In 1941 she married her first love, Henry Lee Allen. Shortly after they were married, he was sent by the army to Germany in WWII, where he lost his life in 1945. In 1948, Ginny married James Richey. They started a concrete business in Knoxville, Iowa. They enjoyed their time at a home in Knoxville as well as a cabin on the river where they enjoyed fishing and welcomed family and friends. Upon Jimmy's retirement, they still had ties to Iowa with their Clear Lake condominium, but their "Happy Place" they called home was St. James City, Florida on Pine Island, where they lived the rest of their lives.
"The Hostess with the 'Mostest'" is the phrase used to describe Aunt Ginny. She loved company, whether it be just one person or a group of friends or family. Through the years Ginny enjoyed cooking and baking for her guests. She loved going to bingo, playing cards, gardening, shelling, crafting, scrapbooking, and especially loved boating and fishing. Fish tossed would be grabbed quickly by the local blue herons, Charley and Agnes. When she had guests, they would stay up for hours playing games, listening to polka music, or watching old movies. It was a requirement to go out and eat once a week, take a car ride and get ice cream. Her all-time favorite activity was sitting daily under the "Shady Lady" tree and greeting everyone in the boats (including the dolphins and manatees) in the canal/bay. Boats would use her property to know they were in the right canal to make it home.
A few years ago, Ginny greatly enjoyed a nearly three-week trip to Europe with her sister-in-law, Mildred, and a friend. On this trip she visited the gravesite of her first husband, Henry Lee Allen.
Virginia June Richey was 100 years young when she passed away on January 29, 2023. She was predeceased by her spouses, Henry Allen and James Richey; parents, Lily and Lynn Harvey; brothers Lyle (Marjorie) and Bob (Mildred); step-brothers, Paul (Mary) Holdsworth and William (Millie) Holdsworth; nieces and nephew Claudia South, Michael Harvey, Susan (James) Poffenberger; great-nephews Stephen South, Kris South, and Charles "Chip" Poffenberger. She is survived by niece and nephews Bruce (Suzanne) Harvey, John Harvey, Stephanie (Steve) Sarcone; great-niece Tina (Tony) Gordon, great-nephew Patrick (Gilda) Harvey, great-nephew Michael (Lori) South; nephew-in-law Larry South; step-nephew Robert (Susan) Holdsworth; and many other nieces, nephews, cousins and countless friends and loved ones. Services will be held at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Des Moines, Iowa on Monday, February 6th at 10:30. Visitation will be prior to the services at St. Anthony's from 9-10:30. Memorials may be made to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Catholic Church in Bokeelia, Florida where she was a dedicated parishioner. The service will be livestreamed here: https://player.vimeo.com/video/795278947