Services for Virginia Wilson, 89, who died at home on Mother's Day, May 9, 2010, will be held 10:30 a.m., Thursday, May 13, at the First Baptist Church in Indianola, of which she was a member, with burial following in the Indianola I.O.O. F. Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Virginia was born February 9, 1921 in New Virginia, IA to Charles and Anna Lee (Sumner) Jacobs. She attended six different schools before graduating from Clio, IA in 1939. She married Donald Sharr on October 4, 1939 and to this union two children were born, Judy and Ronald. Donald was killed April 4, 1945, while serving in World War II. After his death, she taught herself to drive, moved to Indianola and began teaching while taking summer classes at Simpson College. Continuing her education at Drake University, she received her B.A. degree in 1958.

Virginia started teaching in a rural one-room schoolhouse in Warren County (Mount Moriah) with nine pupils and one pot-bellied stove. She later taught in Beech and then became a second grade teacher at Irving Elementary in Indianola. She believed teaching was "a way of life" and it never felt like a job even retiring after 37 years. She married Gene Wilson on July 15, 1969. They enjoyed traveling and were always planning their next trip. They found great pleasure in visiting family and their grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Virginia enjoyed life, cherished her family and loved to shop and travel. Although her life had many challenges, she never thought of them as hardships. She had a deep faith and was a spiritual example to her family as well as to many others.

Her parents and two husbands preceded her in death.

She is survived by her children, Judy (Gary) Morrison of Indianola and Ronald (Joretta) Sharr of Knoxville; stepchildren, Connie Porter and Harold Wilson both from Lincoln, NE; sister, Doreen Jacobs of Ashland, KS and brother, Willis (Jan) Jacobs of Golden, CO; seven grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.

Visitation will be held 5 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, May 12 at Overton Funeral Home in Indianola where family will be present to greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Memorial gifts may be given to the her church or Dollars for Scholars. Online condolences may be sent at www.overtonfunerals.com.