Virginia Hutton

Virginia Lee Hutton died Sept. 17, 2012 at her home in Lenexa, KS. Her funeral service will be at Countryside Christian Church, 6101 Nall, Mission, KS, at 4 p.m. Sept. 21, 2012. The family will greet visitors at the church beginning at 3 p.m. Graveside service will be held at the Beaumont Cemetery at 2 p.m. Sept. 22, 2012, in Beaumont, KS. Virginia was born in her grandparents' home in Independence, KS, to Cora Letha & Lenn Willard Tibbetts on Feb. 21, 1918. She was raised in Augusta, KS, and graduated from the Augusta Public School System. It was a time of greater freedom for women, including shorter hair and hem lines, suffrage and fewer adherences to traditional gender roles. 'Ginny' was true to her era, dancing the popular Charleston on roller skates on her way home from school, while sporting the newest hair fashion, the bob. Much of her life was devoted to music. As a young girl she accompanied her father, a music teacher, to small communities and schools in the Flint Hills as he gave lessons. Frequently they played duets, with him on the violin and her on the piano. On one such trip she, age 13, met William 'Bill' Wayne Hutton, her future husband. Years later she gave lessons to her own students. She seemingly made quite a fortune from these lessons because whenever her husband complained of some purchase, she declared it was from her music lesson money. That became a standing family joke. She also shared her talent by playing for her church, family and eventually giving lessons to all her grandchildren and one great grandson. On Dec. 6, 1939, after graduating from Butler County Community College in El Dorado, Kansas, Virginia eloped with Bill Hutton. They made their home in Beaumont, KS, in a house with no power or water. They owned and operated a local grocery store. Eventually they moved to the Shawnee Mission area where they raised their two daughters, along with many dogs, cats, chickens, rabbits and horses. During their 39 years of marriage, Virginia became expert at making chili, 'Hutton-bone-&-body-builder', and dressing and preparing wild game dinners. Virginia enjoyed many different and interesting activities. Besides her interest in music, she was an avid swimmer and horsewoman, loved reading, belonging to book clubs throughout her 80s, and traveled extensively. She belonged to the Kansas City Athenum. But above all her greatest joy was her family. She adored and was adored by her grandchildren and was an integral part of their lives. In time, another generation, her six great grandchildren, came to know and love her. In these and all relationships she was nonjudgmental and she loved unconditionally. She was a charter member of Countryside Christian Church in Mission, KS, and was its oldest continuing member. She continued to be an active church member into her late 80s. Though not one to push her beliefs on others she nevertheless embodied the essence of the true Christian by her lifestyle of quiet kindness and generosity. Throughout her life Virginia had a curious mind, always open to new ideas and viewpoints. Compassion was always her guide. She leaves two daughters, Nancy Jeanne Ralston and husband Rich, of Liberty, MO, and Pennie Hutton von Achen and husband Kurt of Eudora, KS, four grandchildren, Bill Ralston, and wife Kathy, Tom Ralston and wife Ekaterina, Megan Russell and husband Jim, and Kate von Achen, and six great grandchildren. She also leaves her friend of 80 years, Elouise Strait of Bolivar, MO, and her devoted care givers Sandy Evans and Joyce Caylor. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and her sister, Carol Jean Tibbetts. The family suggests contributions in lieu of flowers be made to The Salvation Army or Historic Beaumont Christian Church restoration fund in care of Marce Brewer, P. O. Box 20, Beaumont, KS 67012

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