Virginia Sriver

Virginia Ann “Ginny” Sriver, age 90 years of Niles, Michigan, mother, grandmother, sister, teacher, equestrienne, and adventurer died peacefully at 6:01 a.m. on Sunday, July 18, 2021 with her family gathered around her bedside at her home following an extended illness.  Her family is grateful for the kind and compassionate care provided by the staff of Caring Circle Hospice at Home.

She was born on May 8, 1931 in Colon, Michigan to Hewlett and Ellen (MacKerchar) Bean.  Several years later, she moved with her family to Estes Park, Colorado where she graduated from high school.  She volunteered for military service in the United States Army, serving during the opening of the Korean Conflict.  She later continued her education at the University of Missouri and Western Michigan University, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Education.  She first taught in a one-room schoolhouse formerly on Mayflower Road.  She later taught at Niles High School.  During her career, she took courses for Continuing Education at the University of Notre Dame (Indiana) and Southwestern Michigan College.

Ginny enjoyed teaching, was a member of the Niles Education Association, and remembered nearly every student – not just the most challenging, good or bad – but all of her students.  Some have stayed in contact with her, including correspondence from a resident of a correctional facility, who was turning his life around with her encouragement.

Her father-in-law was a competitive harness racing driver and won the Michigan Futurity one year.  Ginny also enjoyed standardbred horses and competed more often in racing than her other abilities with show horses. In high school, she had been a member of the girl’s rifle squad.

On April 29, 1955, in Niles, she married Ernest Donald “Don” Sriver with whom she celebrated the fortieth anniversary of their wedding just 4 days prior to his death on May 3, 1995.  She was also preceded in death by her parents, a daughter, Pamela J. Kimmel, son-in-law Gordon Kimmel, a grandson, Keith Kimmel, a sister, Margaret (Jim) Reed and her brother, Hewlett (Bud) (Bobbie) Bean.

Surviving family includes her sons, Michael L. (Ruth) Sriver of South Bend, Indiana and Douglas J. Sriver of Niles; grandchildren Amber Sriver, Crystal Young, Austin Sriver and Christina Suarez; great-grandchildren Savannah and Gabriel; Ginny’s sister, Joan Raine of Florida, and several nieces and nephews.

Committal Services for Virginia Sriver will be at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 21, 2021 at her graveside in Forest Lawn Cemetery, 6865 Forest Lawn Road in Three Oaks, Michigan where the family will honor her life and share memories.

Contributions in memory of Ginny may be made to My House to House Christian Ministry https://my.housetohouse.com/ , or Christian World Missions, Post Office Box 985, Starkville, Mississippi, 39760, http://www.christianworldmissions.org/ .

Arrangements were made at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home in Niles.  Online condolences may be left at:

www.halbritterwickens.com

Ginny enjoyed spending time outside with her horses, and was an adventurer of life.  But her greater interest was in people. including all of her students, and especially her family.