Virginia Hamlin Peterson

Virginia Hamlin Peterson went to be with her Lord on February 9, 2010. She lived in Belleville at the time of her death. She was born in East St. Louis, Illinois on January 1, 1915, the daughter of Franklin Church Hamlin and Stella Mae Ernest Hamlin. Virginia was married to Adrian Peterson in East St. Louis in 1937, and was married for 63 years, at the time of Adrian's death in 2000. She was one of five children, including Helen Fowler of Belleville, Frank Hamlin of Little Rock, Arkansas, Stella Mae Kramer of Belleville and Florence Rheberg of Grass Valley, California.

Virginia attended preparatory school in Massachusetts and was a graduate of East St. Louis High School. She was a wonderful mother and grandparent and was referred to as Granny by all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She loved her dogs and nature and was most at home when she was at the sea shore or by the water, having lived in Florida and on a lake in East Texas. Virginia and Adrian loved to travel and when their children were young they "toured" the country by car from shore to shore, including several trips through Canada. They lived in Illinois, Iowa, Florida and Texas during their married life and took a trip to Hawaii for their 50th wedding anniversary. During her later years, she lived in Belleville with her daughter and son-in-law.

Virginia was an active member of Lutheran churches in Iowa, Florida, Texas, East St. Louis and Belleville during her lifetime, and she was a member of Signal Hill Lutheran Church in Belleville.

Virginia is survived by her son, Edward Peterson and his wife, Catherine of Dallas, Texas and her daughter, Judith Grimmer and her husband, Rick of Belleville, four grandchildren, Eric Grimmer and Carrie Courtney of Belleville, Kristin Baltus and Kendra Robinson of Dallas, Texas and eight great grandchildren, Madison and Dylan Grimmer, Morgan and Jackson Courtney of Belleville, Joshua Peterson, Taylor Lindholm, Mason Robinson and Ryan Robinson of Dallas, Texas.

A special thanks to all the loving people at Passages Hospice.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Signal Hill Lutheran Church memorial fund or to Passages Hospice in Belleville.

Visitation: Friends may call from 10 to 11:00 am Saturday February 13, 2010 at Signal Hill Lutheran Church.

Funeral: Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, February 13, 2010 at Signal Hill Lutheran Church with Pastor Mark Wiesner and Deacon Cheryl Lynn Sell and officiating. Burial will take place immediately following the service at Mount Hope Cemetery in Belleville, IL.

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