Virginia Rimel Higgins passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, March 4, 2018 just four days shy of her 98th birthday. She had spent the day before with family and friends at an early birthday celebration lunch in her honor at the Sugar Mill Woods Country Club, followed by a family dinner on the lanai at her home.
Virginia was born to Herman Ernest Rimel and Vera Smithers Rimel in Valier, Montana on March 8, 1920. She went to grade school and high school in Missoula, Montana and upon graduation attended the University of Montana, graduating in the early 1940’s with a LLB in Law. While attending the University she became a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.
It was while a first year law student that she participated as the star witness in a moot court case for a senior law student by the name of Fred Higgins. Fred was admitted to the bar in 1941, but had also been in ROTC, and so was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant Infantry. It was not until October 2, 1944 that Virginia and Fred would marry. Thus began for Virginia the life of a Air Force wife, as she moved with Fred from San Francisco to Washington D.C., to Ohio, then back to California, on to Oklahoma and Germany and places in between. But Montana was a constant draw for both and as time allowed, trips often included visits back home to Montana.
Virginia and Fred had three daughters Kathee (Bill McMahon), Susan (Dennis Musial) and Nora Marie (Richard Taylor).
Virginia and Fred moved to Homosassa, Florida in the early 1980’s to take advantage of the moderate climate and the excellent golfing, not necessarily in that order. They continued to escape Florida summers for their cabin on Flathead Lake in Montana. Virginia was a member of PEO Chapter HL in Sugarmill Woods. They both loved time at the lake spent golfing and enjoying sundowner drinks on the deck with friends and family. Fred passed away in December of 1994. In 2013, Virginia first lost Kathee and then a few months later Susan.
Virginia is survived by her daughter Nora Taylor of Ardmore, Alabama and by two grandsons, Richard Taylor (Bekah) and Nick Musial (Beth), and by two great grandchildren, Charlotte and Vivian Taylor. She will also be greatly missed by her nephew John Rimel and his wife Karen and niece Whitney Rimel, all of Missoula, Montana.
At Virginia’s request, no services are planned for Homosassa. She has been cremated and her remains will be interred with her husband at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
Cremation care is under the direction of the Chas E. Davis Funeral Home with Crematory, Inverness, FL.
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