1930
Virginia
2016
Virginia Roakes
August 24, 1930 — November 26, 2016
Nora Virginia Tyree Roakes – Her journey is complete and they are together again.
On Saturday, November 26, 2016, at the age of 86, Virginia Tyree Roakes slipped peacefully from this life to once again hold the hand of Ernest Warren Roakes, her devoted husband and best friend for 65 years.
Virginia is survived by her daughter, Linda Roakes Crist, her son, Edward (Eddie) Wayne Roakes, her daughter-in-law, Barbara Price Roakes, and her granddaughter, Emily Winston Roakes.
Also surviving are her sister-in-law, Nancy C. Roakes, nephews Lawrence T. Roakes (Martha), Gary M. Roakes, Barry Tyree (Carolyn), Larry Tyree, Stuart Tyree (Kim), Scott Tyree (Stacie), Michael Tyree (Mikaela), and cousins Edward (Skip) Lemanski (Barb) and Vickie C. McCarthy.
In addition to her parents and husband, Virginia was pre-deceased by a brother, David Eugene Tyree, sister-in-law, Gloria Robey Tyree her brothers-in-law, Clarence T. Roakes and Lawrence E. Roakes, her husband’s parents, John E. and Ellen B. Roakes, a special cousin, Ramona W. Lemanski and her husband Edward A. Lemanski, and, a special niece by marriage, Lisa K. Roakes.
This is a love story. It began in Lynchburg on August 24, 1930, when Virginia was born, the daughter of A.P. Tyree and Christine Driskill Tyree. She attended Brookville High School and was an employee of Craddock & Terry and Rivermont Dry Cleaners until she met a young sailor in 1949. He thought she was the prettiest girl in the world and he was everything she had ever dreamed of. They married on April 7, 1950, and lived in California until his discharge in 1951. Four years later they started their family.
In 1958, the family moved to their new home on Wayne Drive and Virginia established herself in the community as a parent who cared. She cared about her family and the other young families in the neighborhood. She wasn’t afraid to stand up in a PTA meeting, take on a teacher who thought a peanut butter and jelly sandwich was not a healthy breakfast, or fight to get a school bus rerouted for safety reasons. As a member of the Jefferson Women’s Club, she chaired the Ways and Means Committee. She served as a volunteer coordinator of the Forest Recreation Center, co-leader of the Girl Scouts, and as lover of politics, frequently worked as a poll volunteer. She was named “Woman of the Year” by the Forest Ruritan Club, an award given to women who excel in giving to the community. That was Virginia. She was often the first to arrive with food when a neighbor was ill and the first to laugh at even the worst joke. Laughter was the best medicine in her book.
Home and family were everything to Virginia. Taking care of them was the most important job on earth in her opinion and she was fierce in her dedication to both. Good food, cleanliness, and organization were her trademarks and love was the foundation for them all. She was both prissy and tough and it served her well.
We, her children, were blessed. We had two parents that loved us and showed us how much they loved each other. Their wish was always that neither of them would be left here long without the other. Their time here has ended but the love story has a new chapter to be written. It will sometimes be sad, but always sweet.
We want to take this opportunity to thank Dr. William Blackman whose skill, commitment, and compassion brought us through the worst of times and whose sense of humor made the good days even better. He was more than Mom’s doctor. He became our friend. And, to Dr. Wesley Robertson, who cared for Mom during these last days with the same quality of care, thank you. To Crystal Kersey, Mom’s angel, who loved Mom and showed it in ways too numerous to count. You will never know all the ways your “sunshine” made the difference. And finally, to the staff at Heritage Green, who made a “home” for Mom when she had to leave her own. She sincerely loved you all.
There will be no visitation or service, but should you want to honor the life of Virginia Roakes, please consider a memorial contribution to Shiloh United Methodist Church, 18121 Forest Road, Lynchburg, VA 24502 or, a charity of your choice.
View Tribute Video
On Saturday, November 26, 2016, at the age of 86, Virginia Tyree Roakes slipped peacefully from this life to once again hold the hand of Ernest Warren Roakes, her devoted husband and best friend for 65 years.
Virginia is survived by her daughter, Linda Roakes Crist, her son, Edward (Eddie) Wayne Roakes, her daughter-in-law, Barbara Price Roakes, and her granddaughter, Emily Winston Roakes.
Also surviving are her sister-in-law, Nancy C. Roakes, nephews Lawrence T. Roakes (Martha), Gary M. Roakes, Barry Tyree (Carolyn), Larry Tyree, Stuart Tyree (Kim), Scott Tyree (Stacie), Michael Tyree (Mikaela), and cousins Edward (Skip) Lemanski (Barb) and Vickie C. McCarthy.
In addition to her parents and husband, Virginia was pre-deceased by a brother, David Eugene Tyree, sister-in-law, Gloria Robey Tyree her brothers-in-law, Clarence T. Roakes and Lawrence E. Roakes, her husband’s parents, John E. and Ellen B. Roakes, a special cousin, Ramona W. Lemanski and her husband Edward A. Lemanski, and, a special niece by marriage, Lisa K. Roakes.
This is a love story. It began in Lynchburg on August 24, 1930, when Virginia was born, the daughter of A.P. Tyree and Christine Driskill Tyree. She attended Brookville High School and was an employee of Craddock & Terry and Rivermont Dry Cleaners until she met a young sailor in 1949. He thought she was the prettiest girl in the world and he was everything she had ever dreamed of. They married on April 7, 1950, and lived in California until his discharge in 1951. Four years later they started their family.
In 1958, the family moved to their new home on Wayne Drive and Virginia established herself in the community as a parent who cared. She cared about her family and the other young families in the neighborhood. She wasn’t afraid to stand up in a PTA meeting, take on a teacher who thought a peanut butter and jelly sandwich was not a healthy breakfast, or fight to get a school bus rerouted for safety reasons. As a member of the Jefferson Women’s Club, she chaired the Ways and Means Committee. She served as a volunteer coordinator of the Forest Recreation Center, co-leader of the Girl Scouts, and as lover of politics, frequently worked as a poll volunteer. She was named “Woman of the Year” by the Forest Ruritan Club, an award given to women who excel in giving to the community. That was Virginia. She was often the first to arrive with food when a neighbor was ill and the first to laugh at even the worst joke. Laughter was the best medicine in her book.
Home and family were everything to Virginia. Taking care of them was the most important job on earth in her opinion and she was fierce in her dedication to both. Good food, cleanliness, and organization were her trademarks and love was the foundation for them all. She was both prissy and tough and it served her well.
We, her children, were blessed. We had two parents that loved us and showed us how much they loved each other. Their wish was always that neither of them would be left here long without the other. Their time here has ended but the love story has a new chapter to be written. It will sometimes be sad, but always sweet.
We want to take this opportunity to thank Dr. William Blackman whose skill, commitment, and compassion brought us through the worst of times and whose sense of humor made the good days even better. He was more than Mom’s doctor. He became our friend. And, to Dr. Wesley Robertson, who cared for Mom during these last days with the same quality of care, thank you. To Crystal Kersey, Mom’s angel, who loved Mom and showed it in ways too numerous to count. You will never know all the ways your “sunshine” made the difference. And finally, to the staff at Heritage Green, who made a “home” for Mom when she had to leave her own. She sincerely loved you all.
There will be no visitation or service, but should you want to honor the life of Virginia Roakes, please consider a memorial contribution to Shiloh United Methodist Church, 18121 Forest Road, Lynchburg, VA 24502 or, a charity of your choice.
View Tribute Video
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