Viola Grace McGinness

Viola Grace McGinness 93, went to heaven on Tuesday, June 12, to the loving and waiting arms of her husband Doug, who has been missing ‘his beautiful bride’ for more than a year. Our mom, grandma and Gigi, loved her family more than anything in this world, and her husband of 67 years, Doug, was the light of her life, and now they are together where they always wanted to be. Vi was born June 4, 1925, in Gage, Oklahoma and lived through the very worst of the dustbowl years in Oklahoma. Her early difficult years in the heart of the Depression forged a woman who was strong of heart, love and life. Mom graduated from Laverne High School in Oklahoma and went to California, where she was a model for several years. Her love of family brought her back to live in Wichita, where her parents lived. During WWII she worked at IBM and Boeing. Shortly after the war she went on a blind date with a young man named Doug McGinness. Stars were struck in both of their eyes and they married after a whirlwind 6-month courtship on May 12, 1950. They never spent a day apart until dad’s passing on December 8, 2016. Mom and dad could dance, oh could they dance! Our memories of them ‘cutting the rug’ to big band music at Twin Lakes Club, as well as many other dance venues are among our fondest. The love between them was never more apparent than when they swirled away with joy. Mom and dad loved the sun and began spending their winter months in Florida in the early 1980’s as ‘snow birds’. Their Florida home was filled with years of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren hunting for shells and walking the beach. The most precious thing to our mother was her family, and she expressed her devotion in a myriad of small and great ways that stay with each of us today. Until her final breath, her concerns were for her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and so many family members who meant the world to her. When the chaplain asked if she had any last prayers, she replied, “only for my family.” That was our mom, a one-woman powerhouse of love and dedication. Mom is preceded in death by her parents, Gracie and Earl Korn, and brother L.E. Korn, and by her beloved husband Doug. She is survived by her children; daughters, Kim (Glenn) Honeycutt of Huntsville, Ohio, Brenda McGinness of Wichita, and son, Doug McGinness II (Liz) of Wichita; they were by her side as she transitioned to be with dad. She also has a full and vibrant family of grandchildren, Sarah (Todd) Chiaramida of Sharon, MA, Jenni (Jerry) Huelskamp of Piqua, Ohio, Jaron (Liz) Gordon of Kansas City, Carrie Smith (Brett Stark) of Key West, FL, Katy McGinness of Brooklyn, NY, and Doug McGinness III (Yas) of London, UK. She was further blessed with great-grandchildren, Jonathan and Rachel Huelskamp, Paloma and Persephone Gordon, and Joey and Emily Chiaramida; step-grandchildren, Tracey Sigler, Melanie (Mike) DeAscentis, David (Lisa) Honeycutt; Step-great-grandchildren, Marley, Jackson, Lucas and Benjamin Huelskamp, William Sigler, Hailey and Gavin Honeycutt, Maddie, Mike, and Mara DeAscentis. She is also survived by sister Mary (Ben) Grisamore. Visitation with the family will be from 6:00 - 8:00 pm, Monday, June 18, at Downing & Lahey East Mortuary. Funeral Service will be at 10:30 am, Tuesday, June 19, at First United Methodist Church. Memorials have been established with: First United Methodist Church, TV Foundation, 330 N. Broadway St., Wichita, KS 67202; Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, 6240 W. 135th St., Ste. 200, Overland Park, KS 66223.