Virginia Leona Whitesel

Virginia Leona (Gibson) Whitesel was born October 27, 1937 in Rossburg, Ohio to Taft Gibson and LaVera (Booker) Gibson. She passed away at Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie, IN on Monday, August 17, 2026 at the age of 88. Virginia graduated from Ansonia High School in 1954. She worked at the telephone company as an operator and at the Corner Cupboard in Union City, but, most importantly, she was a homemaker and helped on the Whitesel family farm. Virginia married Ronald Dewey Whitesel on July 20, 1956; they celebrated 70 years of marriage this past July. They had two children: Tammy Sue (Whitesel) Brouse and Gregory Scott Whitesel. In 1964, they moved to their family farm in Union City, IN, where Virginia resided until her death.

Virginia was the matriarch of her family and was very active in the lives of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed boating with her family, spending time at her cottage on Lake Celina, and traveling with her husband. She was a sewer, gardener, and avid fan of the Cincinnati Reds, the Indiana Pacers, and the Indiana Fever. She also enjoyed watching her family’s pulling truck, Cornstalk Express, compete at local truck pulls. One could often find Virginia doing water aerobics at the Greenville YMCA, cruising around town in her red convertible, taking great-grandchildren out for ice cream, or sitting in a rocking chair on her front porch. She was full of life and loved to have fun; she will be deeply missed.

Virginia was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, and two sisters. She is survived by her husband, Ronald Whitesel of Union City, IN; her daughter, Tammy Brouse (Keith) of Union City, IN; her son, Greg Whitesel (Heidi) of Union City, IN; her sister, Velma Breymier (Robert) of Union City, OH; grandchildren, Amy Shell-Brouse (Andrea) of Evansville, IN; Adam Brouse (Leah) of Columbus, IN; Kerra Mendenhall (Eric) of Union City, OH; Angie Haviza (Jason) of Fishers, IN; Kurtis Whitesel (Jennifer) of Union City, IN; and Kyle Whitesel (Payton) of Winchester, IN; and 17 great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at South Salem Church in Union City, IN on Monday, August 24, 2026. Funeral visitation will be from 11 am to 2 pm and a funeral service will be from 2 pm to 3 pm. A graveside service will follow at the Union City Cemetery.

Memories may be expressed online at www.reichardfh.com.