Alice Virginia Fry

Alice Virginia (McShan) Fry, age 87, of Ballinger, Texas passed from this life to be with her Heavenly Father on May 31, 2009 while in an Odessa, Texas hospital. A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held Wednesday, June 3 at 10:00 a.m. at the Church of Christ, Sixth and Avenue B, in Ballinger with Max Pratt officiating and Mike Riley directing the singing service. A visitation will be held immediately following the service. A private graveside service will be held later at Evergreen Cemetery.

Virginia Fry was born to Virgil Leslie and Lalla Rookh (Batts) McShan on July 18, 1921 at home in the community of Dry Ridge outside of Ballinger, Texas. She attended Dry Ridge School then graduated from Ballinger High in 1938. After attending two years at John Tarleton Agricultural College she married Jackson Bonner Fry on November 27, 1940. To this union were born Jackson Bonner, Jr., Shirley Lalla, Virgil Mack, and Michael Silvey.

She was an elementary teacher at Dry Ridge and substitute elementary teacher for sixteen years in Ballinger. Later, she was also an aide with the Junior High Special Education classes for eight years. She was a devoted member of the Church of Christ, having been a member at the Garland Road Church in Dallas and the Avenue B Church in Ballinger. She participated with her husband in the Ballinger Volunteer Fire Department and took part in all her children’s school and outside activities. She was a member of the South Ballinger Home Demonstration Club serving as treasurer.

She is survived by her loving husband of 68 1/2 years, Jack; son, Jack Jr. and wife, Kathleen, of Abilene; daughter, Shirley Eoff and husband, Jerry, of Alpine; son, Virgil of Missouri City; and son, Mike and wife, Marsha, of Ballinger. Grandchildren include Jama Cadle and husband, Mike, of Abilene and great-grandson, Jackson; Chalon Vermeulen and husband, Adriaan, of Arlington; Kyle Fry and wife, Melanie, of Waco; Kacie Levy and great-granddaughters, Mycayla and Layla, of Missouri City; Aaron Fry and wife, Lauren, of Houston; and Brandon Fry of Abilene. She is also survived by sister-in-law, Mildred (Mrs. Cliff) Stark of Boise City, Oklahoma, and sister-in-law, Gladys (Mrs. Foy) Davis of Ballinger. Her daughter-in-law, Caryl Ellis Fry of Missouri City, preceded her in death in 2007.

Her joys in life included her family, her home, and her church. She was known as Virginia, Skeet, Mom, Mama, Grandmother, Meme, and Friend. Her family and friends will miss her sweet smile, her sweet spirit and her Christian example. She was a dear and gentle lady.

Although not expected, for those friends who wish to make a contribution in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lifeline Chaplaincy at 1415 Southmore, Houston, TX 77004, or the Avenue B Church of Christ at P. O. Box 426, Ballinger, TX 76821.