Virginia R McKnight Born December 4th 1929 to September 24 2026 Flora, IN

This morning we lost an Angel; my mother got her wings. I needed to let my feelings flow. My mother, Virginia—although many people knew her simply as Ginny—passed away at the age of 96. When I think about my mother, one thing stands out above everything else: she spent her life caring for people. Mom was a registered nurse and spent more than 40 years working in the OB department, helping mothers bring their babies into the world. I don't know how many mothers and babies she cared for over all those years, but I'm sure there were many. Nursing wasn't simply a profession for Mom. Caring for people was just part of who she was. Mom and Dad built a home and raised my sister, Julie, and me. Mom could sometimes be a little too cautious when it comes to her children. She worried about us getting hurt, getting ourselves into trouble, or doing something we probably shouldn't be doing. She was what you might call a real “mother hen.” When you're a kid, you don't always understand why your mother worries so much. Looking back now, I understand it better. She worried because she loved us. She wanted to protect us, and no matter how old we became, I don't think she ever stopped being our mother hen. Mom also had a great interest in genealogy. She spent countless hours researching the histories of many different families. She enjoyed finding out where people came from, who their ancestors were, and piecing together the stories of generations that came before us.

In 2017, Mom lost Dad. After Dad passed away, Mom carried on. She continued taking care of her home and going about her daily life on her own. She was proud of being able to do that. In fact, she had a name for herself. She would say she was an “independent woman.” And she was. Eventually, as the years went by, Mom reached the point where she could no longer safely take care of herself at home. She spent the last few years of her life in a nursing home. But even there, that caring part of Ginny never went away. Think about that for a moment. Here was a woman who had spent her career taking care of other people, and now she was the one who needed someone to care for her. Yet even in the nursing home, Mom was still trying to help the other residents. I think that tells you just about everything you need to know about my mom, Virginia “Ginny” McKnight. She cared for mothers and their newborn babies as a nurse for more than 40 years. She cared about families and their histories. She cared for her home and her family. She loved Dad, and after losing him, she found the strength to carry on as the “independent woman” she was so proud to be. And, of course, she never stopped worrying about Julie and me. She was a nurse. She was Dad's wife. She was our mother. She was our mother hen. And she was one very independent woman. For 96 years, Mom cared about people. She spent a lifetime looking after others, and I hope she knew just how much she was loved in return. I'm going to miss you, Mom. And I will always be proud to be your son. Surviving: son-Robert “Bob” & Marilyn McKnight of Flora, daughter-Julie A. McKnight of Delphi, grandchildren: Krista Foreman, Anthony “Tony” & Jeneve Laing, & Hunter Laing. Great grandson-Jericho Bergdorff, great great grandson-Jericho Bergdorff. Sister-Sue Witt of Flora. Preceded in death by 2 brothers Wayne & Bill, 2 sisters Charolette & Dorothy. Services: Visitation will be Wednesday-September 30, 2026, from 12pm until her funeral service at 2pm, at Abbott Funeral Home, Inc., Delphi. Her grandson Tony Laing will be speaking. Burial at IOOF Memorial Gardens, Pittsburg. Memorial contributions to the American Diabetes Assoc.

To view her obit or send an online condolence to the family, visit: www.abbottfuneralhome.com