Virginia Wallace, age 94, went peacefully to be with her Heavenly Father on early Tuesday morning, September 28.

In respect of Virginia's wishes, graveside service will be on Tuesday, October 5 ^th , at 2:00 P.M. in Edgar Cemetery in Paris, Illinois. Reverend Pablo Marty of First United Methodist Church of Paris will officiate. Stewart and Carroll Funeral Home is assisting the family.

She was born November 15, 1926 to Chester W. Bennett and Dora Markman Bennett in Edwards County, Illinois, where she grew up, helping her parents tend their family farm. She married Bernard W. Wallace on May 26, 1945 and was happily married to him for 44 years before his death in 1989. She was also preceded in death by her father, mother, and sisters; Norma Strine and Betty Seals and a special friend, Clarence Kile. She is survived by her oldest sister, Blanche Reid of Mesa, Arizona. Additionally, she is survived by nieces and nephews and their spouses; Jerry Strine and Dan Strine of West Salem, Illinois, Cheryl Hughes of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, Michael Seals of Jackson, Tennessee, Bill Reid of Queen Creek, Arizona, and Donna Theis of Phoenix, Arizona, and many other great nieces, nephews, and cousins who absolutely adored her.

Virginia and her husband were residents of Paris, Illinois for over 50 years. Virginia owned a hair salon in Mt Carmel, Illinois prior to moving to Paris. In Paris, she worked for a local bank and then the Edgar County Farm Service Agency until her retirement. She was an active member of the First United Methodist Church and served faithfully on many committees.

Virginia was jubilant, full of life, had a sense of humor; was a welcoming and gracious hostess; and most importantly, a loving and caring lady. She cherished the time spent with family and friends.

Virginia loved preparing meals and desserts for her family and friends and always had a glass of tea or a cup of coffee brewing. Many of her recipes have become family favorites. She also loved to go out to eat. Virginia was always ready for playing cards with friends or packing her bags to travel. The sisters began annual trips after their husbands died, the last one being to Utah in 2007 when all the sisters were in their 80's. From an early age, Virginia always loved the outdoors. A lot of her trips were to warm climates and the beach. You could often find her outside her home tending to her yard, flowers, and birds.

Virginia touched the hearts of all who knew her, including the workers at Cobblestone Crossing in Terre Haute, Indiana where she resided for the last year of her life. She will be remembered there for her smile, laugh, and sense of humor but also her spunkiness. The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff of Cobblestone for the loving and dedicated care provided to her and to the Southerncare Hospice Group for their care in Virginia's final months.

The families have asked in lieu of flowers, a memorial in the name of Virginia Wallace be made to two causes dear to Virginia's heart: St Jude Children's Research Hospital or Macular Degeneration Foundation.

For more information and online condolences please go to www.stewartandcarrollfuneralhome.com