Virginia Ruth Crandell 12/13/1926 ~ 08/22/2021

Virginia was born in Gary, Indiana and lived in several places before her family moved to Jonesville, MI. She graduated from Jonesville High School and started nursing school at the University of Michigan during WWII. She was very proud that she spent some time at U of M in their nursing program - which showed as she took care of all our ailments growing up.

She fell in love with Raymond and they married in 1946 ending her nursing ambition. They waited a few years to start a family and then had Carol and Bert in the early 1950s. Virginia stayed home to raise the kids and manage the farm. Virginia and Ray had a large chicken operation and grew cash crops on their 150 acre farm. It was a demanding business but she handled it very successfully. When Bert went off to college they closed down the chicken business and Virginia went to work in a real estate title office. When Ray retired, she did too, and they split their time between Michigan and Arizona while traveling extensively throughout the USA in their motor home.

Ray and Virginia were the love of each other's lives and they very much enjoyed their 62 years together. Ray passed away in 2008.

Virginia spent a lifetime as an avid reader and loved books. She liked history, family history, good mysteries, biographies and historical fiction. She was a whiz at cross word puzzles and mastered even the hardest ones. Ray and Virginia enjoyed their grandkids and cared for them many times when Bert and Lindy took long distance trips. They also looked after RJ and Alan when Carol needed help. The grandkids LOVE Grammie very much. Her granddaughter Austin and she became dear friends and Austin would come and dine almost every Sunday to spend time with Grammie.

Virginia was a smart lady and enjoyed good conversations. She was a dynamic and lovely woman that had a positive impact on her family and she will be missed greatly.

Virginia is survived by her brother Warren Woolsey; son Bert Crandell; daughter-in-law Lindy Crandell; five grandchildren - RJ Gildersleeve, Alan and Desiree Gildersleeve, Austin Crandell, Adam and Katie Crandell, Loren and Kelly Crandell; and six great grandchildren. Her daughter Carol passed in 2016.
A private family memorial is planned.