Virginia Ruth Taylor

Virginia Ruth (Grover) Taylor, 87, passed away peacefully on Monday, December 23, 2024 at her daughter’s home in Meridian, Idaho. She was born on November 18, 1937, to Nola LaVerne (Benda) and Gerald E. Grover in rural Thomas County, Kansas.

She was the oldest of four children with sisters Dorothy, Vera, and brother Gary. In 1944, while her father was serving on a Navy submarine in the Pacific, Virginia’s mother and youngest two siblings died in a house fire. Following the war, Gerald moved her and Dorothy to central California where they grew up. She graduated from Modesto High School in 1955.

In 1956, Virginia was set up on a blind date with the man who became the love of her life, Robert (Bob) Taylor, an active-duty member of the US Air Force. Three weeks later, they were married in a chapel in Reno, Nevada. Virginia and Bob had two children: Gary, born in 1957, and Leslie, born in 1958. They were married for 55 years until his death in 2012.

For the first 21 years of marriage Virginia was a full-time mother and military wife. With the Air Force they travelled the world. She has lived in Colby, Kansas; Modesto, California; Bitburg, Germany; Florida; Nevada; Oregon; North Dakota; Mountain Home, Idaho; Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia; Boise and Meridian, Idaho. Virginia was a very involved mom volunteering in her kids schools and activity clubs.

When Virginia and Bob settled in Idaho, she was hired by Fearless Ferris as a receptionist/secretary in their main office where she worked for over 20 years. She was loved by everyone and will be deeply missed.

Virginia is survived by her son Gary (Cheryl) Taylor of Deerwood, MN; daughter Leslie Taylor of Meridian; sister Dorothy Grover of Eugene, OR; three grandchildren: Megan Zahnow, Jennifer Taylor, and Zachary Taylor; and four great-grandchildren: Leighana, Preston, Teagan, and Amelia.

She was preceded in death by her husband Robert, parents Nola LaVerne and Gerald, sister Vera, brother Gary, and several step-mothers.

Funeral Services will be on Friday, January 10, 2025, at Meridian United Methodist Church at 11:00am with visitation beginning at 9:30 am. Inurnment will be at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery with her beloved husband, Bob.

Funeral arrangements by Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel and Crematory, Boise, Idaho.

In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to Meridian United Methodist Church.