YOUNGSTOWN - Virginia L. Williams, 94, peacefully passed away on Saturday afternoon, June 13, 2015.
Virginia will always be remembered and loved by her family and friends for her hard work ethic, loving personality and smile.
She was born May 27, 1921, in Youngstown, Ohio, the daughter of Bernerd and Mary (Santor) Lickner, and was a lifelong area resident.
Virginia was a 1939 graduate of East High School and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Youngstown Hospital School.
She then achieved her Master’s Degree from the University of Pittsburgh in Nursing Service Administration.
Virginia was a proud U.S. Army veteran of World War II, where she earned the rank of first lieutenant.
She served in the European Theater and France and was awarded the following decorations, the American Campaign Medal, the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.
Virginia participated in battles of Northern France and Rhineland, serving 15 months overseas. She was a general duty nursing Orthopedic Clinic and surgical wards of general station and evacuation hospitals in France, Belgium, Germany and Luxemburg.
She also went out on detached service as much as possible and was most proud to have the honor of saluting and speaking with Gen. Patton.
Virginia was awarded an honorable discharge on July 1, 1946, at Separation Center Fort Dix, N.J.
Virginia was employed after she returned home from the war as a private duty nurse.
She then worked at the Vienna Air Base and Ravenna Arsenal and retired after 35 years of service from Woodside Hospital as the director of nursing.
Virginia was extremely active within her profession and was proud being associated with all the great nurses in the area.
She was a delegate for the Ohio Nurses Association at their annual conventions, along with being a lifetime member, past president of District No. 3 Nurses and inducted in 2007 through the Ohio Nurses Association to the Cornelius Hall of Fame.
This was a great honor because the Cornelius Leadership Congress recognizes members of the ONA who demonstrate the leadership and characteristics of Dorothy Cornelius in their work with the ONA.
Virginia was published by Willard Scott in the book The Older the Fiddle the Sweeter the Tune, was on the board of Camp Fitch, a past president and member of Altrusa Club and a longtime member of St. Columbia Cathedral.
Virginia had many hobbies and passions throughout her life, but she truly enjoyed reading, swimming, listening to jazz music and especially loved talking with her grandchildren.
Her husband, Howard W. Williams, whom she married Sept. 12, 1953, died July 12, 1985. Virginia leaves to cherish her memory, her two sons, Timothy Shawn (Marlene) Williams of Cranberry Township, Pa., and William (Kimberly) Lickner of Hubbard, Ohio; five grandchildren, Amanda, Cassandra and Alexis Williams and Michael and Shawn Lickner; along with many cousins.
Besides her parents and husband, Virginia was preceded in death by a brother, Edward F. Lickner.
Family and friends may pay their respects on Tuesday, June 16, 2015, from 4 until 7 p.m. at the Rossi & Santucci Funeral Home 4700 Market St., Boardman, OH.
There will be a Mass of Christian Burial held on Wednesday, June 17, 2015, at 10 a.m. at St. Columba Cathedral
Burial will take place at Calvary Cemetery, Youngstown, with full military honors provided by - the great men of the Trumbull County American Legion.
Family and friends may visit
www.rossisantuccifh.com to view this obituary, sign the guest book and send condolences to the Williams and Lickner families.
In lieu of flowers material contributions may be made in Virginia’s name to Hospice House, 9803 Sharrott Road, Poland, OH 44514. - See more at:
http://www.vindy.com/news/tributes/#sthash.3EqCp76u.dpuf