- Date Of Birth: August 13, 1924
- Date Of Death: April 16, 2021
- State: Iowa
Virginia Mae Ferguson-Byrd, 96, passed away April 16, 2021 of natural causes at Wesley Acres Retirement Community. She was born in Des Moines, Iowa on August 13th, 1924, to Harold Parnham and Bernice Goodwill.
Virginia attended North High School, and met the love of her life, Robert (Bob) Ferguson, at Trinity Methodist Church. They married in 1941 and moved to California in 1946 with their son, Larry. Over the next 13 years, they would have two more children, Greg and Tom. In 1955, Virginia and Bob moved their family back to Des Moines. They were part owners of Robinson and Parhnam Nursery on Grand Avenue in Des Moines until 1966.
In 1967 Virginia, Bob and Tom moved to Ames. Following Bob’s death, Virginia remarried childhood classmate, Harry Byrd, and moved to West Des Moines in 1985.
While Bob was serving in World War II, Virginia worked at Ryan Aeronautical Co. in San Diego. Her work ethic and loving nature earned her the Miss Ryan award of 1943, a distinguished award given yearly to an outstanding employee.
Virginia’s greatest gift to her family was her unconditional love and emotional support. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Bob; second husband, Harry Byrd; and sons, Greg and Tom Ferguson. She is survived by her older sister, Charlotte Evans; son, Larry (Jane) Ferguson; daughters-in-law, Julann Ferguson and Cheryl Ferguson; seven grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
