Virginia Lee Carson Garver

Virginia Lee Carson Garver, 103, died Tuesday, June 20, 2023, at Larksfield Place in Wichita.Born and raised in Wichita, Virginia lived for nearly 60 years in Severy, Kansas, before returning to Wichita in 2004. She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Severy banker and civic leader, James L. Garver; five sisters and brothers-Mary Martha Kellogg, Wichita; Frances Aitchison, Wichita; Carolyn (Cay) Hatcher, Wichita; F.L. Carson, Jr., Mulvane; and Dr. John C. Carson, LaJolla, Calif.; and a grandson, Robert Ruhnke, Hutchinson. Virginia Lee Carson was born December 10, 1919, in Wichita to Frank Lee and Carrie May Price Carson. Frank became President and Chairman of the Board of First National Bank in Wichita. Virginia graduated from Wichita North High School and then attended Sweet Briar Women’s College in Virginia and the University of Kansas, where she joined Pi Beta Phi Sorority. She always wanted to be a nurse and was finally allowed to transfer to the Boston, Mass., Children's Hospital School of Nursing, graduating in 1942. She married James Luther Garver, Jr., October 29, 1942, in Richmond, VA. Jim was also a Wichitan, a graduate of the University of Wichita, and an officer in the U.S. Army serving at the Army Service Forces Depot in Richmond. After World War II, the Garvers returned to Kansas, where Jim and Frank Carson bought the Severy State Bank. They lived in Severy until 2004, when they moved to Wichita. The Garvers had six children.Mrs. Garver was a nurse, community leader, and mother known for her quiet support in making others’ lives better. She and Jim moved to Severy in 1947. She was a registered nurse who had stopped working shortly after being married and had two small children. It was a big change from a comfortable life in Wichita to a small rural town and a house that initially had no indoor plumbing.Her husband ran the Severy State Bank, and was also a fireman, Sunday School teacher, mayor and anything else that needed to be done. Virginia was right beside him and eventually, they helped get water and sewer systems and a more up-to-date life in Severy. Virginia worked actively in all the clubs, civic groups and church activities. She served on the school board, the Hospital steering committee, the bank’s board of directors, and the Severy United Methodist Church Women. She also raised six children. Most of all, she served as a nurse, giving shots, dressing wounds, and helping monitor the health of a town that had no doctors. Some of her doctor friends called her “the Florence Nightingale of the Flint Hills.” In 1975, Mrs. Garver took a refresher course at Wesley Hospital in Wichita and renewed her license as an RN. She was almost rejected from starting the class because she was a 55-year-old grandmother, but graduated and immediately went to work at the Greenwood County Hospital in Eureka. She stayed for 17 years before retiring at age 72. She loved nursing and worked nights and weekends so the younger nurses could spend time with their families. At the hospital, as throughout her life, she combined compassion and firmness to touch the lives of all around her.After her retirement and later when she finally left Severy, Virginia remained active and involved in the world around her. She started water skiing in her 50s, traveled to visit her children and grandchildren, volunteered, and brought food when it was needed. She loved to read and also made cross-stitch samplers and quilts for all her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and family friends. She was genuinely interested in other people and constantly made new friends and kept up with old ones. In Wichita, she belonged to Chapter DJ, P.E.O. Sisterhood and volunteered with the Red Cross and First Presbyterian Church. She was also a 75-year member of The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America. She began cardiac rehabilitation after a heart attack in 2006 and continued with exercise classes twice a week for several years until poor circulation forced the amputation of one leg in 2017. She then moved to Larksfield Assisted Living, where she renewed a lifelong interest in sewing and made pillowcases and potholders to give to friends, family, and charitable organizations. Her other leg was amputated two years ago and she moved to Health Care, but she continued her sewing, thanks to arrangements made by the Larksfield staff. Virginia and her family were continually grateful to the people at Larksfield for their compassionate care, attention, and willingness to make things easier for her.She had a genuine affection for her caregivers and was appreciative when they treated her as someone special. Faith Home Health and Hospice also contributed greatly to her quality of life during her final weeks.Virginia is survived by her children and their spouses: James Lee (Melinda) Garver, Senoia, GA; Susan (Harvey) Peterson, Leoti; Lucy (Chilson) Cook, Newton; Frank (Virginia) Garver, Overland Park; Francie (Bill) Copeland, Wichita; and Dan (Sue) Garver, Riley; 14 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, sister-in-law Elizabeth Carson of La Jolla, CA, and countless nieces, nephews, friends and admirers.Virginia will be buried in the Garver family plot in Highland Cemetery in Wichita. Visitation with the family will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 28, 2023, at Downing & Lahey Mortuary East Chapel and a memorial service will be at 2 p.m., June 29, 2023, at First Presbyterian Church in Wichita.In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made in Virginia Garver’s memory to Transportation Services, First Presbyterian Church, 525 N. Broadway, Wichita, KS 67214, or the Greenwood County Hospital, 100 W. 16th St., Eureka KS 67045.

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