Virginia Lee "Ginny" Freeman, 88, passed away on December 14, 2023, at Dignity Care Home in Salina, KS, following a long illness.
She was born in Los Angeles, CA, on October 1, 1935, to Floyd T. and Edna F. Warmbrodt. The family moved to her father's hometown of Pittsburg, KS, in 1938.
Mom attended Lakeside Elementary, Roosevelt Jr. High, Pittsburg High School, and St. Mary's High School, all in Pittsburg, KS, graduating in 1953. She graduated from Sacred Heart College (Kansas Newman University) with a BS in Education and a Minor in Art Education. She also attended Wichita State University and Louisiana State University of Shreveport, LA. Mom began teaching art and 5th grade in 1966 at Swaney Elementary in Derby, KS, until 1973. She then began a 21-year career teaching art at Linear Middle School in Shreveport, LA, retiring in 1994. In 2000, she began working part-time at her sister's store, Redd's Retail Liquor, Pittsburg, KS, retiring in 2014 at the age of 78.
Mom and Dad, Edward B. Freeman, were married in Pittsburg in 1956. They divorced in 2000, but remained great friends until Ed's death in 2013. They first resided in Wichita and McConnell AFB until 1973, when Ed was transferred to Barksdale AFB adjacent to Bossier City/Shreveport, LA. They returned to Pittsburg in 1997.
Besides Ed, Mom was preceded in death by her parents; son-in-law, Gary Apel; twin grandsons, Jacob and Jared Hayes; and her beloved sister and best friend, Mimi Redd.
Survivors include Mom's three children, Robin Freeman, Salina, KS; Cathy Anslover (Bob Reynolds), Salina, KS; Wayne Freeman and his wife, Carol, of Rochester Hills, MI; seven grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren, Autumn Snyder and her husband, Rick, and their children, Jaquelynn (who was born on Ginny's 65th birthday on October 1, 2000), Seth, Zayne, and Vayda, all of Salina, KS; Jed Anslover and his wife, Chelsea, and daughter, Macie, of Salina, KS; Jamie Moore and her children, Anna and Thomas (who was born on Ginny's 82nd birthday on October 1, 2017), of Rochester Hills, MI; Rachel Anslover Segal and her husband, Joel, and their children, Jack and Benjamin, of Sands Point, NY; Drew Anslover of Grand Junction, CO; Jordan Freeman and his wife, Falina, and son, Skyler, of Rochester Hills, MI; and Kris Apel and his wife, Alison, and their children, Zander, Elli, Khelsea, and Michael, of Salina, KS; and Ginny's nieces and nephews, Terry Menchetti, Bill Redd, Mark Redd, Cindy Frasco, and Susan Russian, and their families, all of Pittsburg, KS; Billie Sue Ebinger and her family, of Holton, IN; and various other beloved nieces and nephews.
Mom's favorite past-times were reading and crafting one-of-a-kind Christmas and birthday cards, which she did for many years. She also enjoyed partaking in Happy Hour every day at 5:00 p.m. with Mimi. Together, they were a hoot! Prior to COVID, she looked forward to monthly lunches with her former high school classmates.
When Ed and Ginny were dating, he gave her a tiny wooden elephant. That elephant blossomed into a collection that encompassed approximately 600 elephant figurines of all shapes, sizes, colors, and textures during a 65-year time span. She was blessed to have a house big enough to display them in.
Mom became known as the "Cat Lady" during the last 20 years. Ginny, Mimi, and her nieces, Terri, Cindy, and Susan, saved many stray cats, getting them spayed and neutered. She personally adopted six strays, her favorite being Baby.
A memorial service will be held on January 13, 2024, at Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, 522 S. Broadway in Pittsburg, KS, at 10:30 a.m. Ginny's family would like to personally thank the entire Redd family for all their help with Mom during her time in Pittsburg, especially Mark Redd for keeping Mom's house up and running, Lucas Redd for keeping her yard in shape, and Cindy Frasco, who took care of all things medical. Cindy was instrumental in saving Mom's life on the night of Mom's hemorrhagic stroke on October 12, 2020. We would like to thank the administration and staff at Dignity Care Home in Salina for the care and compassion bestowed upon Mom during her three year residency. They were the best. Mom suggested memorials to the SEK Humane Society, P. O. Box 783, in Pittsburg or KTWU PBS, Channel Eleven, 1700 SW College Ave., Topeka, KS. 66621-1100. Condolences can be emailed to anslover@cox.net.
