Virginia McElrath Beggs, “Ginny”, 92, completed life’s circle early on the morning of December 27, 2018. For the past nine years she resided at StoneRidge in Mystic, CT previously residing for many years in Manchester, CT and Fishers Island, NY.
She is survived by her husband, John C. “Cal” Beggs whom she married on June 3, 1947 at McKinley Presbyterian Church in Champaign, IL.
Born in Evanston, IL on October 13, 1926, she was the daughter of the late A. Howard and Frances (Fell) McElrath. She graduated with high honors in Journalism from the University of IL. While attending college, she was a staff writer for the Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette.
Ginny was a former member of the South United Methodist Church, in Manchester where she was a Trustee. She also taught Sunday School and served on several boards and committees as well as the Women’s Society. While living on Fishers Island, she was an active member of Fishers Island Union Chapel, UCC and edited their monthly newsletter.
She delighted in the natural world, especially bird watching, and enjoyed all types of wildlife. One of her greatest pleasures was hand feeding backyard birds.
In addition to her husband, she leaves her daughter, Lynn Beggs McManus and husband, John, of Proctor, VT; two sons, Bruce Beggs and wife, Sandi, of Manchester, and Brian Beggs and wife, Jennifer of Padanarum, MA; eight grandchildren, Michael and Brian McManus and Jennifer McManus (Foyle) and husband Scott, and their children, Ethan, Owen and Sarah Foyle; Matthew and Ellery Beggs, Emily Beggs Harrington and husband, William and Allison and Caroline Beggs; six great-grandchildren, Trent and Chase Beggs, Tai, Rowan and Quinn Sandhu and Cooper James Harrington; two step-grandsons, Brian Milone, wife Betsy, and their children, Bailey, Brooklyn, and Brennan and Evan Milone, wife Theresa, and their children, Jonah and Annabel.
A memorial service for Ginny will be held Saturday, January 12, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. in the StoneRidge Auditorium, 186 Jerry Browne Road, Mystic, CT.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the StoneRidge Employees Appreciation Fund, 186 Jerry Browne Rd., Mystic, CT. 06355 or to Smile Train, PO Box 96231 Washington, DC. 20090-6231.
Published January 4, 2019, Stonington-Mystic Patch
By RJ Scofield, Patch Staff
Information via Mystic Funeral Home
