Virginia R. Bender

Virginia "Ginny" Russell Bender, of Newport, RI (formerly of Oil City, PA), passed away December 21, 2015 while in residence at Village House Nursing Rehabilitation Center in Newport. She was born in Wheeling, West Virginia on December 3, 1928, the daughter of Margaret (Bowman) and Sidney James Russell. She was preceded in death by: her parents; her husband, Robert Glenn Bender; her sisters, Diane Larkin of Nashua, NH; Ruth Ward of El Paso, TX; Mary Reidy of Oil City; and her brothers, Robert Russell of Oil City and James Russell of Germany.She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Kathleen and Charles Howland, and granddaughter, Jennie, all of North Potomac, MD; her son and daughter-in-law, David and Susan Bender, grandson, John, and granddaughter, Kristina, all of Newport, RI; and her son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Leelia Bender of Saline, MI, and grandsons Matthew Bender of Los Angeles, CA and Christopher Bender of New York City. Ginny worked several years as sales representative for Henri Fayette greeting card company, Hallmark greeting card company, and The Derrick as an advertising layout designer, in Oil City. She was an accomplished artist, painter, sculptor, and seamstress, winning honors at local juried art and craft competitions such as the annual Kennerdell Arts Festival. She was a member in the Second Presbyterian Church in Oil City where she was also a member of the Womens' Auxiliary. No public service is planned. In lieu of memorials, the family suggests making a memorial donation, in Ginnys memory, to the Village House Activities Center, 70 Harrison Avenue, Newport, RI 02840.