Virginia Nobles

Beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister, Virginia S. Nobles, aged 95, passed away on December 4, 2008, surrounded by family, after a long and loving life. Virginia was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin on December 1, 1913, the second daughter of Virginia Laura Schwartz (later Trollinger) and Jay Henry Schwartz. Her older sister, Hazel S. Ryland, preceded her in death. Virginia lived in both Ohio and Pennsylvania before moving at an early age to Colonial Heights, Virginia. At age 19, Virginia married her childhood sweetheart, Charles Yates Nobles, who predeceased her in July 2002. Virginia will be greatly missed by her sister, Peggy T. Adams and her life partner, Judy L. Simmons of Chesterfield County; her three children, Donald Y. Nobles of Colonial Heights, M. Yates Nobles of Charlottesville, and Barbara N. Altizer and her husband, Charles B. Altizer of Chesterfield County; her grandchildren, Janet N. Morehart of Herndon, Donald Y. Nobles II and his wife, Terry M. Nobles of Chesterfield County, and Patty N. Woodward of Colonial Heights; Jason A. Ivey of Charlottesville, Nathaniel S. Ivey of New Orleans, Louisiana, and L. Wyndham I. Bailey and her husband, Jeremy D. Bailey of Houston, Texas; C.H. Alexander Altizer and his wife, Laura Perry-Altizer of Chesterfield County, Virginia A. Isley and her husband, Bryan A. Isley of Burlington, North Carolina, and Anna E. Altizer of Manhattan Beach, California; her great-grandchildren: Sarah M. Ford and her husband Michael J. Ford of Aldie, Virginia, and Amanda H. Morehart of Laconia, New Hampshire; Joseph G. Nobles and Jacob Y. Nobles of Chesterfield County; Wren Woodward and Anne-Caroline Woodward of Colonial Heights; Wilson A. Bailey of Houston, Texas; V. Britton Isley and Bryan A. Isley II of Burlington, North Carolina; and her great-great grandchildren, Joshua I. Kelly, Maya H. Kelly and Chloe F. Kelly of Laconia, New Hampshire. Virginia partnered with her husband Dick by directing the administrative side of their business, Town and Country Realty in Petersburg, Virginia, from 1949 to September of 2005. Virginia served the community for many years as a volunteer with the Twigs at the Southside Regional Medical Center, delivering flowers to patients. She was Treasurer of the Burlington Garden Club for many years and as a member, notorious for winning "best specimen" with her flowers. Her ability as a gardener was well known, and she shared the secrets of gardening as well as her specimens with family and friends. She was a faithful friend to the birds who were attracted to her garden. Virginia was a devoted mother to her children and grandchildren, and has been inspirational both in character and competence. Among the gifts Virginia leaves to family by way of example are her generosity, her kindness, her selflessness, and her commitment to enrich the lives of others. She opened the door to the joys of travel to her children and grandchildren. Virginia was skilled at many crafts, including cooking, rug braiding, quilting, embroidery and knitting. Virginia and her family are forever appreciative to her dedicated caregivers over the past few years, Christine Younger and Patricia Smith. Family visitation will take place from 4-6:00 p.m. at the Colonial Heights Chapel of the E. Alvin Small Funeral Homes and Crematory, 2033 Boulevard on Saturday December 6, 2008. A memorial service will be held at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, December 7, 2008 in Woodlawn Baptist Church, 3120 Woodlawn Avenue, Colonial Heights. Burial will be held at 1:30 p.m. Sunday in Sunset Memorial Park, Chester. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Burlington Garden Club at: 1305 Canterbury Lane, Colonial Heights, Va 23834, or to the Federated Women's Club of Petersburg, c/o Mrs. Jack Chaney at: 8700 Privet Dr, Chesterfield, Va 23237. Condolences may be registered at www.ealvinsmall.com