Virgina B. (Ginnie) Smith passed away peacefully on the morning of April 19th, 2024 — 3 days after her 95th birthday.
Since 2015, Ginnie has been an active member of the community at Marjorie P. Lee Retirement Home where she made plenty of friends with residents and staff. It is somewhat ironic that Ginnie made so many friends late in her life because for the first half of her life her relationships were mostly focused on her immediate family.
Born in York, Pennsylvania, her family moved so often (she attended 12 different schools) that it was hard for her to maintain lasting friendships with her classmates. Upon marrying her Penn State sweetheart, Richard Smith, in 1950 and starting her own family, the nomadic family lifestyle continued as they proceeded to move 10 times for Dick’s career with Corning Glass, including stops in Mexico City and Wiesbaden, Germany. In each of those moves, Ginnie prioritized getting her kids acclimated and educated in a new community over establishing her own circle of friends.
Once her children became old enough, Ginnie refreshed her education degree from Penn State and became certified to teach middle-school science. She started teaching junior high science in Coral Gables, FL and then finished her career in Louisville, KY, teaching advanced science at Kammerer Middle School. It was there that Ginnie proudly received an award from her students as the “School’s Hardest Grader”. Of note, two of her 8th-grade students went on to become highly successful NCAA and NBA basketball players (Jeff Lamp and Lee Raker).
Upon retiring from teaching and relocating back to Corning, Ginnie poured herself into community service. First, as the executive director for the Corning Meals on Wheels and then brailing textbooks for school systems in New Jersey. She took on the daunting challenge of learning how to braille, became a certified braille transcriber by the Library of Congress and produced volumes of textbooks in math, science, languages, and literature for 28 years. Ginnie frequently received awards from the country’s largest volunteer braille organization, the Jane Bente Braille Center, for her contributions.
Outside of work and family, Ginnie had a strong passion for travel, art/music, reading, and good food. She passed those loves down to her children and grandchildren. Self-taught, she was a fabulous cook and many of her children and grandchildren are carrying on that passion and skill for cooking great food.
Preceded in death by her beloved husband of 60 years, Dick, and her brother Buddy, Ginnie is survived by her children Richard Smith, Virginia (Raymond) Equi, Bonnie (Tim) Dinsmore, and Geoff (Robin) Smith. Ginnie was a loving “Nana” to her grandchildren Chris Dinsmore, Matt (Thalia) Dinsmore, Colin (Pauline) Dinsmore, Raymie (Lauren) Equi, Emily Equi, and Delaney Smith. She was also thrilled to have four great grandchildren, all on the Dinsmore side: Lincoln, Elise, Haiden, and Sophie.
Memorials may be made to Episcopal Retirement Services’ Good Samaritan Fund: www.EpiscopalRetirement.com
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