Virginia Ann (Walters) Rothenberger

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Virginia Ann (Walters) Rothenberger, formerly of Schell City, Mo., passed away Nov. 16, 2010, at the Christus Spohn Hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas. She was born Dec. 11, 1928, in Ottumwa, Iowa, to Benjamin Ford Walters and Lara A. (Brooks) Walters.

She married Hubert Leslie Rothenberger on Aug. 30, 1946. They settled in Schell City in 1965. She worked at the International Shoe Factory in El Dorado Springs. Later, she and her husband ran a garage in Harwood. Then they built and ran their own garage in Schell City. Upon closing their garage, she went to work side-by-side with her husband as a truck driver for many years. After her retirement in 1990, she enjoyed staying home, camping, fishing, playing cards and board games with family and friends. She liked playing with her many grandchildren, playing her harmonica, singing and humming.

She moved to Corpus Christi, Texas, in 2008, after the death of her husband in 2007. While there, she enjoyed walking on the beach with her dogs, Lady and Shelby. She collected sea shells, cleaned and painted them. She kept up with family and friends from Schell City by getting on her computer and getting on her daughters Facebook page. She was known as mom to all her friends she met in Corpus Christi and loved by all.

She was preceded in death by her husband; 14 brothers and sisters; one daughter-in-law; one son-in-law; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

She is survived by her five children, Paul and his wife, Marlene, El Dorado Springs, Mo., Vickie Norton, Corpus Christi, Texas, Mike and his wife, Adelfa, Schell City, Mo., Connie Davis and her husband, Larry, Schell City, Mo., and Kendall and his wife, Gail, Prescott, Ariz.; one sister, Effie Mather, Waterloo, Iowa; 30 grandchildren; 59 great-grandchildren; and 10 great-great grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held at the Baptist Church in Schell City on Dec. 4, at 1:30 p.m.

Memorials are suggested to the American Heart Association or Schell City Volunteer Fire Department.