Virginia Lee McDowell, age 93, passed away Saturday April 21, 2018, at Papillion Manor in Papillion.

Virginia was born on Aug. 5, 1924, to Nolan C. and Nina A. (Starling) Short in Lebanon, Neb.

She graduated from Madison, Neb., High School. Following graduation, Virginia graduated nursing school at Bethel Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs, Colo., in 1946. She also trained at the Denver Children’s Hospital and the Colorado Springs Psychiatric Hospital, then returned to Nebraska and graduated from Midland College in Fremont, receiving a bachelor’s degree in science.

On Oct.1, 1953, Virginia married John B. McDowell in McCook and two children were born to this union, Nancy and Linda. The couple made their home in McCook where Virginia worked as a registered nurse until her retirement in 1987.

Virginia enjoyed traveling, quilting, tatting, reading, and gardening.

She is survived by her daughters, Nancy Brune of Omaha, Neb., and Linda Sugar of Dillon, Colo.; granddaughters, Meghan Hemenway and husband, Zach of Lenexa, Kan., and Tasia Scott of Boca Raton, Fla.; great-grandsons, Ellis Dashiell Hemenway “Dash” and Daniel Huck Hemenway “Huck.” Surviving nieces and nephews are Ron Tompkins, Mary Jo Radil, Jeri Anne Brisbin, Sharron Moskal and Anita Faddis.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John on April 27, 1988; her parents; her sister, Imogene and husband, Fay McBride; son-in-law, Daniel Brune, and one nephew, Robert Tompkins.

Memorials may be given in her name.

Graveside services will be held at Fort McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell, Neb., on Friday May 11, 2018 at 2 p.m. with Rev. Janie Freeman officiating.

Carpenter Breland Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements and memorials may be given there in her name.

Please visit carpenterbreland.com to leave your condolences for the McDowell family on her tribute wall.

Source: https://www.mccookgazette.com/story/2506969.html