Virginia C. Harris, 106, died on Oct. 6, 2022. Born on the South Side of Chicago to Clifford John and Lulu Mae Wilson McCutchen on Aug. 7, 1916. Her father was a contract painter. Before she started school, the family traveled from Chicago to California while he worked. Eventually, the family moved back to Chicago and she graduated from McKinley High School, then attended Crane College. She married in April 1941 and lived in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago before moving to Oak Park in 1950. She lived in her home on Lombard Avenue for the past seventy-two years.
She was a member of Judson Baptist Church and worked in the nursery for more than 60 years. In 2006, the nursery was named in her honor. Each Christmas, she created and made an ornament for each child.
She also left a legacy for the children she worked with in the Girl Scout and Boy Scout programs. She was a Girl Scout leader, den mother, round-table leader, commissioner, day camp coordinator, and held several other positions. She received the Presidential Award and the Silver Beaver Award, among the highest given by the Boy Scouts.
She was involved with a number of craft groups through the church and the community until she entered the hospital a couple of weeks ago. She worked at Whittier Elementary School in the cafeteria program, retiring at the age of 92.
She is survived by her daughters, Sandra (Ed), Gail, Susan, and Mary (John); 10 grandchildren, Nicole (Tom), Michael, Elizabeth (Nick), R.B. (Jenn), Ryan, Eric (Amanda), Jason (Natalie), Bradley (Kelly), Jonathan (Laura), Kristen and Kalyn, and 20 great-grandchildren. Her husband of fifty years, William A., preceded her in death, as well as her son, William J., and her grandson, Joshua W.
She lived a wonderful, compassionate life and will be remembered by all those whose lives she touched.
Visitation will be held at Peterson-Bassi Chapels, 6839 W. North Ave., on Tuesday Oct. 11 from 4 until 8 p.m. The funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 12, at the funeral home, followed by interment at Elm Lawn Memorial Park.
