Virginia Anne (Shaffer) Vanderpool

Virginia Anne (Shaffer) Vanderpool, 93, of Vandergrift, died peacefully at home and passed into the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on February 3, 2021. She was born in Eglon, WV on June 9, 1927, daughter of the late Earle C. Shaffer and Zorah E. Heckert Shaffer. She was the fourth of six children and graduated from Aurora, West Virginia High School. On January 11, 1951 she married Jess E. Vanderpool of Cassville, MO and established a home in Baltimore, MD for 50 years until his death on October 18, 2002. They had three children, Shirley (David) Jack, Catherine Howell, and Roger Vanderpool.

Virginia was a born again Christian, who was a devoted student of the Bible, and delighted in sharing her faith. She was a life-long teacher of children and worked alongside Child Evangelism in Baltimore for many years, teaching Good News Clubs. Children knew they were welcome, safe, and loved in her home. In addition, she taught Sunday School and was a Vacation Bible School Director, church secretary, pianist and member of church choir. She also volunteered at the Port Mission in Baltimore.

Virginia was an accomplished seamstress, and especially loved to sew quilts. Her beautiful quilts are treasured by her family.

She dearly loved the Evangelical Presbyterian churches she attended in Baltimore. However, in her later years, when she moved to Vandergrift, PA, she found a loving, welcoming family of believers in the Pleasant View Brethren Church in Kepple Hill, Vandergrift. It was there she met a kind and godly man, Gary Tiger, whose friendship she cherished for the remainder of her life.

Virginia was also widely known and appreciated for her baking skills, especially cookies. Her cookies will be greatly missed, along with her smile!

She is survived by her daughters, Shirley (David) Jack of Apollo and Catherine Howell of Little Rock, AR; son, Roger Vanderpool of Tucson, AZ; brother, J. Kenneth Shaffer of Baltimore; sister, Ruth Marsh of the Village, FL; and granddaughters, Valerie (Michael) Hajjar, Rebecca A. Howell, Rachel C. Vanderpool, Katheryn (Scott) Berger, and Elizabeth (Aaron) Staton; and great-grandchildren, Zachary, Gabriel, & Canaan Hajjar and Kensey & Sydney Berger, and Teddy & Kitty Staton.

She was preceded in death by her father, Earle Shaffer; mother, Zorah E. Shipe; husband, Jess E. Vanderpool; brother, Richard Shaffer; sisters, Lucille and Beulah McMinn; daughter-in-law, Shelly (Gregory) Vanderpool; and stillborn grandson.

Special thanks to the kind, caring people of Heartland Hospice, who guided the family through her final days at home.

A memorial service is being planned at a later date to honor her memory. There will be no public viewing. Please consider making a memorial donation in her name to Pleasant View Brethren Church at 1156 Pleasant View Drive Vandergrift, PA 15690.  Arrangements were entrusted to Ross G. Walker Funeral Home Ltd., 217 Freeport Road, New Kensington. Rossgwalker.com

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