Virginia Ballengee Leitch (“Ginger”) died on June 27, 2011, after a long and difficult fight with uterine sarcoma.  She was 73 years of age at the time of her death.

            Ginger was born on February 20, 1938 and grew up in Covington, Virginia.  She married her high school sweetheart, Powell M. Leitch, Jr. (“Pookie”) on June 8, 1955.  After moving to Nashville, Tennessee, where Pookie completed his education, they returned to Covington to make their home.  Pookie and Ginger were married for almost 32 years, until his untimely death in May of 1987.

            Ginger is survived by her two children, Powell M. Leitch, III (“Nick”) and his wife, Cathy, of Roanoke, Elizabeth Leitch Dreszer and her husband, Andy, of Covington.  She also is survived by two sisters, Gloria Crooks of Parkersburg, West Virginia and Ann Basham of Graham, North Carolina, and two brothers, James Ballengee of Columbus, Georgia and Jerry Ballengee of Roanoke, Virginia; a brother-in-law, Marshall King Leitch and wife, Monty of Floyd; two sisters-in-law, Edith Lynn Leitch Via of Columbus, MS and Carolyn Loving Leitch Read of Houston, TX.

            Ginger believed her primary calling was to be a parent.  She worked outside the home and served as the Registrar for the City of Covington for a number of years.  For most of her professional career, she worked as the Regional Coordinator of Covington, Clifton Forge and Alleghany County for the League of Older Americans– Area Office on Aging.  This agency provides services for the elderly citizens of the Alleghany Highlands, including transportation, Meals-on-Wheels, and congregate meals.  Ginger took her work very seriously, and she did it very well.

            In addition, Ginger was active in the community.  She served as the Alleghany Highlands Christmas Mother in 1980.  She was a founding member of the Alleghany Highlands Arts Council (formerly the Community Concert Series) and was very active in that organization for most of her life.  She was honored to receive the Council’s lifetime achievement award in June of 2010.  Ginger was a charter board member of the Alleghany YMCA and a supporter of the Charles Pickney Jones Memorial Library.

            A memorial service will be conducted at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, June 30, 2011 at McAllister Memorial Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Michael C. Fleenor officiating. Interment will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery.

            Honorary pallbearers will be Burdette A. Rupert, B.R. Rupert, David Minter, James D. Snyder, Robert Johnson, James Johnson, Patrick Jackson, James Howard and Arnold Hostetter.

            The family will receive friends on Wednesday evening from 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. at Loving Funeral Home.

            The family respectfully suggests that, in lieu of flowers, contributions in Ginger’s memory may be made to Mountain Regional Hospice, P. O. Box 637, Clifton Forge, VA 24422, the League of Older Americans – Area Agency on Aging – Vital Transportation Fund, P. O. Box 725, Covington, VA 24426, or the Alleghany Highlands Arts Council, P. O. Box 261, Covington, VA 24426.

            Those wishing to send condolences online, please visit www.lovingfuneralhome1913.com.

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