Virginia Shipley's Obituary
Virginia Shipley, 80, of Dunedin passed away at Mease Hospital after a brief illness.
Ginni, as she was known to her family and friends, was born August 5, 1937, the only child of Felix P. “Phil” Curci and his wife Virginia (nee Barker). Afflicted by juvenile rheumatoid arthritis from birth, Ginni’s parents were urged by doctors to have her institutionalized. Her parents refused, however, and Ginni spent much of her childhood in various hospitals, Phil and Virginia working five jobs between the two of them to keep up with bills. Eventually she came to the attention of the Shriner’s Hospital for Crippled Children in Springfield, Massachusetts, and received treatment there that eventually enabled her to return home permanently.
Though hampered by physical disabilities, Ginni persevered to graduate high school, then moved to Florida where she attended Florida Southern College. Ginni served as statistician for the Moccasins’ basketball team, and was graduated from FSC Class of 1962. Ginni worked for many years as a self-employed bookkeeper, counting many Bay-area businesses large and small among her clients. In her forties, she turned to public service, working for the State of Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services (now the Department of Children and Families). She retired as a Public Assistance Specialist Supervisor.
She was a Sunday School teacher for more than ten years, teaching third- and first graders. Ginni filled her home with books and works of art, and enjoyed traveling the world with family and friends.
She was predeceased by her parents. She is survived by her son Pete Shipley and daughter-in-law Jennifer of Gainesville, Florida.
Her family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks to the friends and caregivers who assisted Ginni in the last years of her life, and fervently hopes that, having been denied the ability on this earth, that Ginni has received her perfect healing and is running, skipping, and jumping somewhere in the company of her beloved fox terrier Susie.
A memorial service will be held for Ginni at 1 PM Monday, October 16 at North Dunedin Baptist Church, 1595 Michigan Blvd, Pastor Andy Strachan officiating.
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