Thelma Virginia (Ginger) VanderZee, 94, of Fort Wayne, IN, and previously of Huntington, IN, passed away on Thursday, December 13, 2018, at Aperion Care Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, IN.
Ginger was born on December 26, 1923, in Williamsport, PA, to Callaway and Leona (Foresman) Hardy. She was preceded in death by her parents and her daughter Virginia Lee (Cornish) Holmes. She married Wilbur E. “Van” VanderZee on May 6, 1967. He preceded her in death on October 14, 2018.
Ginger graduated from Williamsport High School in 1941 and served in the United States Coast Guard from 1944 to 1946. She worked as a Bell Telephone operator in New Bloomfield, PA, and switchboard operator at CCNB, New Cumberland, PA. She later worked in the Indiana governor’s office. She was a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church, Huntington, IN, and American Legion #85. She loved attending her and Van’s high school reunions and Bell Telephone Pioneers luncheons. She was always very generous with her time and gifts and loved sharing photos with her friends and family.
Ginger is survived by one son, Donald (Terry) Cornish II, Camp Hill, PA; one stepson, Jeffrey VanderZee, Harrisburg, PA; three stepdaughters, Vicki Kunkel, Camp Hill, PA; Leigh (Benjamin) Goas, Etters, PA; and Lisa (Ken) Starsinic, Harrisburg, PA. She is also survived by one half-brother, Robert (Kathy) Hardy, Bella Vista, Arkansas; three grandchildren, Ara Virginia Guille-Greenberg, Colorado Springs, CO; Zachary (Nicole) Holmes, Spencerport, NY; and Katherine (Adrian) Murray; four step-grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
There will be no calling hours.
A Graveside service with Military Honors will be held at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 19, 2018, at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville, PA.
In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to St. Peter Lutheran Church in care of McElhaney-Hart Funeral Home, 715 N. Jefferson Street, Huntington, IN 46750.
McElhaney-Hart Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences: www.mcelhaneyhartfuneralhome.com