Virginia Lee Trago (Penley) passed away on May 17, 2024.
She was born July 11, 1941 in Chattanooga, TN, to Morris and Doris (Carson) Penley. She grew up in the Red Bank area, and graduated from Red Bank High School.
She worked as a soda jerk at Lay’s Drug Store in Chattanooga, where she met and fell in love with this young enlisted Air Force man named John Trago Sr. They dated for a short time, and knew they were meant to be together forever. Forever for them was 58 years. They enjoyed a wonderful life, moving around the United States, before retiring in Empire, MI. where they were active in the church and the community. Virginia was a personal banker in Empire, for Empire National Bank, then Huntington Bank, and finishing up her career with State Savings Bank, a job she enjoyed very much. Virginia was also very active with Glen Lake Community Schools, where she served on the school board for 22 years, many of those years as the President. They enjoyed hosting the weekly euchre parties at their house until her husband became to ill to continue.
Virginia and John always wanted a large family. Their love resulted in 6 children. Virginia is preceded in death by her husband John Sr, who passed away on June 26, 2017, and her oldest son, John Jr. (Sheila Porter), who passed away on May 17, 2017.
She is survived by her daughter Sherry (Devon) Harris, Jerry (Kristy Holliday), Alisa Trago, Carolyn (Louis) Coomans, and Sharon (Mark) Hawkins. She is also survived by sister Lynn Whitmire and her brother Tommy Penley, and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She was a much beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and aunt. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11am on Friday, May 24, 2024 at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church with a visitation starting at 10am. Burial will follow at St. Philip Neri Catholic Cemetery. The Rev. Fr. Kenneth Stachnik will officiate. Memorial contributions may be directed to the DementiaSociety.org.
Kindly share thoughts and memories with her family at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com
