Virginia Ruth (Fretz) Stant, age 93, of Straughn passed away in New Castle, Ind., on Wednesday evening, Sept. 21, 2011, at the Woodlands at Forest Ridge where she has lived for the past 4 years. A daughter of the late Anthony and Ora (LaSelle) Fretz, Virginia was born in Sugar Ridge Township- Centerpoint, Ind., on March 16, 1918.
She graduated from Ashboro High School with the class of 1936 and also from Indiana Central School of Nursing in 1939. Virginia was a veteran of the United States Army. She proudly served her country during World War II as a 1st Lieutenant Army Nurse with the 32nd General Hospital Unit of the Methodist Hospital at Indianapolis. Virginia received 4 Overseas Service Bars, and the European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon w/4 Bronze Battle Stars for her service in Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes and Rhineland. She was honorably discharged on Dec. 29, 1945. Virginia worked as the plant nurse for International Harvester in Indianapolis from 1946-1948. She married in 1948 and helped her husband on the family farm south of Straughn as they raised their family. She returned to work as the school nurse at Tri High School from 1971-1975. Virginia was a member of the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church where she also served as deacon. She enjoyed bible study, quilting, sewing and playing the piano.
Survivors include son, George (Donna) Stant of Fountaintown; son inlaw, William Kaiser of Straughn; grandchildren, Andrea and Greg Kaiser of Richmond, Doug (Dayna) Stant of Fortville, Randall Stant of Indianapolis and Amanda Stant of Greenfield; great-grandson, Mason Stant; sister, Norma Rector of Centerpoint; and nieces and nephews.
Virginia was preceded in death by her husband Robert T. Stant on Dec. 27, 1998, who she married in Beech Grove, Ind. on June 6, 1948; daughter, Barbara Anne Kaiser on May 30, 2008, and 7 siblings.
Visitation will be held from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2011, at the Marshall & Erlewein Funeral Home, Dublin. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 26, 2011, at the Funeral Home with Rev. Michael Smith officiating. The Reverends Peter Zinn and Arthur Whitaker will assist. Burial with military honors will follow at the Lewisville Cemetery.
Online condolences can be made at www.marshallanderleweinfuneralhome.com
