Virginia L. Fentem

Virginia L. Fentem, formerly of Emmet Township, passed away Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019 at Wesley Village in Macomb. She was 95. She was born May 30, 1924 in rural Colchester to Frank and Beulah Stookey Hoyt. Virginia married Arlin D. Fentem in Colchester on November 10, 1946. He preceded her in death on April 21, 2016. They were married for more than 69 years. She was also preceded in death by her parents, by her daughter-in-law Jayne A. Fentem, and by a brother, Billy Hoyt.

Surviving to mourn her passing are her son, Thomas H. Fentem of Quincy, her granddaughters Claire Elaine Click of Quincy and Sarah Lynn Fentem of St. Louis, her brother, Joe Hoyt of Colchester, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Virginia worked as a bookkeeper at the Citizens’ National Bank in Macomb, the Colchester Sale Barn, the Horne Beverage Company in Macomb, and at McDonough District Hospital. She enjoyed playing bridge and was a member of many clubs. She was a member of the McDonough County DAR, past member of the Eastern Star and a long-time member of the Colchester First Christian Church. She loved horses and birds, tolerated cats and detested garden pests, especially moles. She had vivid memories of her time riding and showing her horses as a girl.

Virginia travelled with Arlin on many trips to London and European cities, but she was always a farm woman at heart. She looked forward to family gatherings and was famous for her pies, tuna salad and poppy seed cake. At Christmas, she would hide a new glass ornament inside a 7-foot-tall tree that family members would race to find. She adored her twin granddaughters and always knew exactly what to do when they sought her grandmotherly advice.

The family will host a celebration of life service at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, at the Jones Mortuary in Colchester. Family and friends may attend a visitation following the service until 4:00 p.m. at the funeral home. The family will hold a private graveside ceremony later at the Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Colchester. Friends may sign the book at the funeral home after 9:00 a.m. Friday, Oct. 18, 2019. Memorials may be made to Wesley Village Health Care. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at jonesmortuaryfh.com

Following the services at the funeral home till 4:00 P.M.

2:00 P.M. Saturday, October 19, 2019 at the Funeral Home

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