Obituary: Virginia Shaw Black Fikes, August 16, 2013

Contributed by Brenda Scott Hines
May 2015
***********************************************************************
The Observer/Enterprise, Coke County, TX - Friday August 30, 2013

Virginia Shaw Black Fikes, a thoughtful, persevering, and adventurous 
soul with a wide range of interests has left us after making the world 
a happier place for those around her for 97 years. Virginia died at her 
home in Robert Lee, Texas, on August 16, 2013.
 
While mourning her loss, family and friends give thanks for the joy that 
her wit, intelligence, goodness, generosity, and grace brought to their 
own lives. She remained independent and active until her last week and 
left this life in the same manner in which she lived it.

A memorial service was held at Robert Lee Baptist Church Tuesday, 
August 20, 2013. Burial was in Vernon, Texas. Arrangements were with 
Robert Massie Funeral Home.

Born October 25, 1915, Ginny was the second daughter of Ollie and Dixie 
Blankenship Shaw. Her early childhood was spent in Kaufman, Texas. The 
family later moved to Palestine, Texas, where she was a 1933 PHS graduate. 
Virginia attended Howard Payne, and then San Angelo became her home.

Virginia and Ed Black married March 18, 1939. Ginny worked for San Angelo 
National Bank until moving to Big Spring. She served as Howard County 
Auditor for thirteen years. Later Ed and she moved to Austin where she 
worked for Bob Bullock in the State Comptroller office. After Ed's death, 
Virginia retired and moved back to San Angelo where she was active in 
volunteer work for Immanuel Baptist Church and various agencies in 
San Angelo and Concho Valley.

Virginia was elected and served four years as one of the first Silver 
Haired Legislators from San Angelo. She then served on the Silver Haired 
Legislature Foundation Board for the next twelve years. Baptist Memorial 
also benefited from her service on their Board of Directors.

Virginia and Weldon Fikes married April 4, 1996, and thus she acquired 
three 'chosen' daughters. After living in Robert Lee several years, 
Weldon and Ginny moved to San Angelo. They enjoyed their Baptist Memorial 
neighbors on West St. and Immanuel Baptist Church family before health 
issues necessitated a move back to Robert Lee.
 
She was preceded in death by her husbands, Ed Black and Weldon Fikes, 
parents, sister and brother-in-law, Kathleen and Watson, and her nephew, 
Ben Watson.

Survivors include her three chosen daughters and sons-in-law; Elaine and 
Davis Miller of Abilene, Marion and Jimmy Stewart of Midland, Farrell Jean 
and Wes Washam of Robert Lee and their children. Ginny was blessed with 
a plethora of special friends. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made 
to Robert Lee Baptist Church.


                    ***************************
Permission granted by The Observer/Enterprise for publication
in the Coke County TXGenWeb and/or the Coke County Archives of the USGenWeb.
Copyright.  All rights reserved.