Virginia (Garman) Pettit, 84, of Hueytown, AL passed away on Friday, July 14, 2023, at Self Care Health & Rehab, Hueytown, AL.
Virginia was born on August 9, 1938, on her parent’s farm north of Burr Oak, Kansas, the daughter of Robert and Helen (Miller) Garman. She spent her earlier years playing and working on the farm with her Brother’s and Sister’s (Jean, Robert, Daniel and Sandra). Her cherished memory was getting to go to the wheat fields to ride on the tractor with her dad when she was little. A couple of her fondest memories with her siblings growing up was listening to the Grand Ol’ Opery show on a battery-operated radio, playing Andy andy over and on Saturday nights the whole family would load up in the car and drive into Guide Rock NE to the dances.
She attended and graduated from Burr Oak High School in 1956.
Her pride and joy were her three son’s and a daughter (Robert, Douglas, Janet and Steven) she was blessed with through the years. Along with becoming a Grandma of 7 Grandchildren (Lindsey, Lexis, Stephanie, Samantha, Wyatt, and Joshua. 9 Great-grandchildren (Eloise, Jaden, Annalise, Jo, Grayson, ZaRiyah, Cobe, Connor, and Liam).
On October 3rd, 1987 she married her childhood playmate David Pettit, who lived right up the road when they were growing up.
Always an entrepreneur at heart, through the years Virginia owned and operated 4 restaurants and an antique store in Nebraska and Kansas. She often joked that she and Dave retired and moved back to Mankato, Kansas, and retirement only lasted a few months. She saw that Bob’s Inn in Mankato had closed down. She purchased it and came out of retirement to operate it. In 2007 Virginia and Dave sold Bob’s Inn and finally retired for the final time. Never to let the grass grow under her feet, she would take order and bake kolache’s from her home during retirement. She also wrote and published her own cookbook during retirement.
Virginia loved her dog Twiggy and she also enjoyed having people come over and play cards, fishing, reading, cooking, and word puzzle books.
Virginia loved Jesus and attended various churches through the years. As a little girl of 8, her Aunt & Uncle who were Missionaries came to visit. They took her to a tent revival meeting. A day that changed her life forever, as she walked down the aisle to the Old Rugged Cross being sung. She asked Jesus to be her Lord and Savior.
Survivors include: children, Robert Burns of Acworth, GA, Douglas (Trudy) Burns of McPherson, KS, Janet (Ed) Cox of St. Marys, GA and Steven (Gwen) Burns of Fayetteville, NC; Grandchildren, Lindsey Roman of Palm Coast, FL, Stephanie Burns, Samantha Burns of Villa Rica, GA, Lexis Hadley of Franklin, TN, Wyatt Burns of Dallas, GA, Joshua Tessen, of Kansas City, KS, Christopher Simmons, Fayetteville, NC; Great Grandchildren, Eloise, Annalise, and Jo, Palm Coast, FL, Jadan, Villa Rica, GA, Grayson, Franklin, TN, ZaRiyah, Winston-Salem, NC, Cobe, Connor, and Liam, Kansas City, KS; Sister-in-law, Hazel Garman, Guide Rock, NE; Brother-in-law, Jon Adams, Saint Paul, MN & many Nieces and Nephews of her siblings.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and her 4 siblings.
Visitation will be from 1-8 pm with the family will receive friends from 5-7 PM, Thursday, July 20, 2023, at Melby Mortuary, Mankato, KS.
Funeral Services are 10:30 AM, Friday, July 21, 2023 at Harmony United Methodist Church, Mankato, KS with Pastor Jim Rice officiating. Burial will follow at Shaffer Cemetery, rural Mankato, KS.
Memorial donations can be made to Harmony United Methodist Church in care of the funeral home. For online condolences, please visit www.melbymotuary.com. Melby Mortuary, 402 N. High, PO Box 384, Mankato, KS 66956.