Virginia Maureen Coke

Portsmouth ? Virginia M Coke, 88, died peacefully on October 26, 2011 at Miriam Hospital in Providence, RI from a sudden intestinal problem and complications of pneumonia. Virginia was born in Alpha, Iowa on December 11, 1922, daughter of Walter D. Messerli and Marvel E. Schroeder. Raised on the family farm, she attended country school in Fayette County Iowa, attended high school at Wadena, Iowa, pitching for the senior girls? softball team and graduated from high school at the age of 16. She enrolled at Upper Iowa University a year later, was voted Homecoming Queen one year and graduated with a teaching degree.She has lived in the Portsmouth community since 1956 when the family transferred here from her husband?s former US Navy duty station of Honolulu Hawaii.Virginia taught in the Portsmouth schools system for a number of years, first as a substitute teacher and then teaching third and fourth grades at the Coggeshall School on East Main Road.She was preceded in death by her brother Keith S. Messerli and by her husband Carroll E. Coke who retired from the US Navy as Chief Warrant Officer CWO-5 after 30 years of service. She is survived by her son Walter E. Coke of Alabama; her granddaughter Susan Coke Brenner of Ft Worth, Texas; her son and daughter-in-law H. Pete and Michele M. Coke of Cartersville, GA; granddaughter Jennifer L. Johnson, great-grandsons Nicholas C. Hyde and Charles N. Johnson of Mt Pleasant, SC; grandson Peter B. Coke and great-grandson Paul L. Coke of Marietta, GA. She was a loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother and many, many others treasured her friendship.Interment and graveside service will be held on Saturday, November 12, 2011, at 1:00pm in St. Mary?s Churchyard, East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI.The family would like to give special thanks to the doctors and the nursing staff of the CCU at Miriam Hospital who brought excellent care and great comfort during Virginia?s illness both to her and her family.