Virginia Rose Pankey, 93, of Loogootee, went to her heavenly home at 10:02 p.m. on Saturday, April 29, 2017.
She was born on September 27, 1923 to the late James and Anna (Lechien) Haffley in Linton, Indiana.
Virginia attended the Linton schools graduating in 1941. On June 14, 1941, she married the love of her life Russell W. Pankey. To this union, five children were born. James E., Russell (Tick), Patrick Lee, Luanna Kay, and Sherry Ann.
She lived her first 37 years in Linton, moving to Loogootee in 1960, so her husband could be closer to his job at National Gypsum. She was a wonderfully dedicated daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She enjoyed more than anything, working, cleaning, cooking, and maintaining her home for her family. She loved and enjoyed her children and grandchildren. At the age of 40, she started working at the Loogootee Textile, working there until she retired in 1992, just a couple months shy of 29 years. Virginia spent her retirement years doing what she truly enjoyed. That being taking care of her home and mowing her yard until three or four years ago she decided it was more than she could handle and let Jim doing the mowing. She was a faith filled woman with a kind, gentle heart of gold. She was an inspiration to us all. She had her work for the Lord that she did faithfully each week quilting with the ladies at the United Methodist Church with ladies she had worked with at the factory. She was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. She was deeply loved and will be missed by many.
Virginia was preceded by her husband, Russell; infant daughter, Luanna Kay Pankey; daughter, Sherry Ann Vogler and; son, Patrick Lee Pankey; granddaughters, Mandy Pankey White and Debbie Bowers; brother, Jimmy Haffley; parents, Anna and James Haffley.
She leaves behind to mourn her loss, sons, James (Waynette) Pankey and Russell(Tick) Pankey, both of Loogootee; daughter-in-law, Dianne McKibben Pankey of Edinburgh; son-in-law, Junie (Connie) Vogler of Jasper; Her grandchildren, Jim (Jeanette) Pankey, of Evansville, John Pankey of Oakland, California, Kimberly Varola of Rogue River, Oregon, Michael Pankey of Shelbyville and Karen(Joe) Sherfick, Ellettsville; her great grandchildren, Briana Varola, Daniel Varola, Michael Pankey, Melissa (Tom) Shrout, Thomas Pankey, Noah Brooks White, Zachary Brooks White, Madeyson Pankey, Carissa King, Dustin Pendley, Derrick Pendley, Abbie Sherfick, A.J. Sherfick, Tyler Varola, Nevaeh Shrout, Braxton Shrout; her great-great-grandchildren, Hunter King, Makayla King and Matthew King.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Very Rev. J. Kenneth Walker at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 5, 2017 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery in Linton.
Visitation will be held Thursday, May 4, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Blake Funeral Home in Loogootee.
Condolences may be made online www.blakefuneralhomes.com.