We were blessed to have been loved, known and taught many valuable lessons by Virginia “Ginny” Elizabeth Wagner during her 75 years - who peacefully passed on November 23, 2021 with her family by her bedside.
Her birth on November 25, 1945 in San Jose, Costa Rica to the late Jose Angel Solano Carranza and Felicia Solano Barrantes Carvajal was the start of a beautiful and purposeful life.
Left behind to carry on Virginia’s legacy: her beloved husband of 54 years, Harry N. Wagner, her daughters and son-in-law, Jennifer Wagner, Jeannette and Eric Binebrink, and her grandchildren, Jacob Wagner and Gabrielle Binebrink. Along with her siblings, Jeannette Solano Barrantes and Jose Daniel Solano Barrantes, and her in-laws, cousins, nephews, nieces, and all of her dear friends who she loved as family.
Virginia was an active member of all her church families, lastly with First Baptist Church of Crofton. She was a woman with unshakable conviction that included her faith in God and His miracles, concern and love for family and friends, power of prayer and forgiveness - and her lighthearted belief she may actually be the next Publishing Clearing House winner. She would put others before herself and would never think of not sending out Christmas and birthday cards without a handwritten note.
She devoted her life to wanting to always help others. Virginia began her schooling in medicine at Howard Payne University in Texas wanting to become a doctor to do just that. Along the way, she met her husband, Harry, who was stationed in New Mexico through the military and brought together through a friend. As she began to complete her path in medicine, she reflected on the demands of work/life balance and elected to pursue a new path in education/teaching. She started teaching in Alamogordo, New Mexico and continued to teach for over 30 years ending her accomplished career as a Spanish teacher in Maryland at Old Mill Senior High School in 2002 after 20 plus years at that school.
Her love for teaching and desire to find innovative methods for her student’s to apply what she taught was evident through various ways – such as establishing and leading the Foreign Language Club at school, initiating and hosting the much-anticipated annual Spanish world trips, shaping AP programs for advanced students and creating interactive immersive language class events.
Virginia never stopped learning herself and completed multiple Master’s Degrees in Psychology, Counseling and Education. She was multilingual speaking fluent Spanish, English and conversational Italian. She took extra time to tutor students even after retiring and volunteered at local Annapolis clinics to help translate medical needs to doctors for Spanish-speaking patients.
She would be the first to make a dish, or lend a hand, to neighbors and friends who may have been sick, needed help or just because. Virginia was gifted with such creative and artistic abilities – from drawing detailed pen and ink designs, oil paintings and watercolor artwork. As well as self-teaching herself how to make elaborate cake decorations that brought many years of joy to those who received them.
The birth and death of our amazing Virginia, however, is not nearly as relevant as all the days and nights that she lived to the fullest between those two dates. She traveled and explored 27 countries on 5 continents and 35 US states with her husband by her side – always ready and willing to go on the next trip. She supported every small shop along the way and a host of stores have now lost a loyal customer.
As an avid theatre lover, she would understand the saying “dimming the lights” in her honor. She was, and will be, the light in many of our lives. Never forgetting her through stories, pictures, recipes, art and prayer. In life we loved her dearly, in death we shall love her still and in our hearts she will forever hold a place that no one can ever fill.
Viewing services will be held Tuesday, December 7, 2021 at Beall Funeral Home from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM. Funeral service will be held Wednesday, December 8, 2021 at 11:00am at First Baptist Church of Crofton followed by the Interment at 1:00pm at the Maryland Veterans Cemetery Chapel-Crownsville.
Floral arrangements may be sent to Beall Funeral Home or those wishing to make a donation in Virginia’s memory may send it to First Baptist Church of Crofton, 1690 Crofton Parkway, Crofton, MD 21114.
Tuesday, December 7, 2021
5:00 - 8:00 pm (Eastern time)
Beall Funeral Home
Wednesday, December 8, 2021
11:00am - 12:15 pm (Eastern time)
First Baptist Church of Crofton
Wednesday, December 8, 2021
Starts at 1:00 pm (Eastern time)
Maryland Veterans Cemetery Chapel-Crownsville
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