My Grandma Ginny loved me so deeply and made me feel safe in the world. Gma Ginny and Gpa Bill Thomas are the first people I have memories of from my childhood. Gma Ginny was my person for sure and made the hugest impression on me.
Virginia Mae Reeder born April 2nd, 1923, in a small town in Galt, Missouri which is a little over 200 miles from where I live now. Her father Earl Reeder died very young. Gma Ginny was raised by her Mother Hazel Mantlo, she had one brother Rex and two sisters Dorothy and Norma. They all grew up close and tight together.
Gma Ginny met Gpa Bill at a dance, and I have been told both could really cut a rug. They married in October of 1940; they lived in St Joseph Missouri. My father Ronald Thomas was born October of 1941. Gpa Bill had to go to WWII for the Navy. After the War the family lived in St Joseph and my father grew up and went into the Navy after high school. It was at that time Gma and Gpa decided to move to Arizona.
My sister and I spent many weekends with my Gma and Gpa. On a normal day you would find my Gma sitting in her Kitchen smoking her long MORE menthol cigarettes. The kitchen table was a place we gathered to chat. Gma's house would be spotlessly clean. Her laundry would be washed and hanging out on her clothesline in the back yard.
I have a ton of great memories, one of my favorites is when Gma would take us to thrift stores and we would find crazy outfits to wear and then my sister and I would go home and go out on the back porch and plan a dance show to do on roller skates with music playing on our tape cassette player. When we were all done, we would have my Gma and my Dad come sit out on the porch and watch us skate to disco music in our funny outfits. Jill and I gave them a lot of roller-skating disco shows.
Speaking of Thrift stores, Gma loved thrift stores, and when she got older and didn't drive anymore, my kids and I would take her to the thrift shops as she called them. We had a big van, and she would sit up front with me. When it was time to load her in the van or out of the van, one of my kids would pop out with a step stool and hold her hand and help her. My children loved my Gma just as much as I did, we were with her till the last day of her life, July 20th, 2005.
Interesting tidbits about Gma.
She didn't start smoking till 40 years old, she also didn't start driving till around the same age.
Gma did not like making left hand turns. She had a planned route where she could go to the thrift shops, Thomas Mall, Fry's Grocery store and the library without making one left hand turn.
Gma flicked her two bottom fake teeth and cussed, by saying "God dammit" quite a bit.... We called her GD Gma. When she was dying, she was unconscious for about 5 days and I told everyone that Gma was at Heaven's gate and God was telling her, "Now Ginny, you can't be saying GD it up here" and I think they were in negotiations about that.
Gma was awesome at Fort building. She always had cool ideas for kid forts, and I have taught that to my kids and grandkids.
Gma was a voracious reader, was up on current events, loved Basketball and adored Charles Barkley.
Gma would animal sit any animal I had that needed babysitting. I think she babysat a Rabbit and Arnold the pig one time or two.
Gma had the best laugh and she was so much fun to be around.
Gma always found alternative ways to fix stuff with things you have on hand. You would always find unusual things fixed with weird things, but it worked... I loved that about her, she always found a plan B
Love of family and children. She loved us dearly but she was also blunt at telling us stuff too. lol.
Feeding people. My Gma was a feeder, whenever you came over, she had all kinds of food for everyone to eat. She was the kindest person I have ever known, and I miss her so much. I wish she could meet my husband, Dave. She would be feeding him and talking his ear off, and he would love it.
I look forward to the day I can see her again in Heaven, I love her and miss her so very much.
Gma Ginny and I
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