- Date Of Birth: February 6, 1926
- Date Of Death: February 11, 2010
- State: Texas
February 6, 1926 – February 11, 2010
Virginia Shoemake Chaney age 84 passed away at her home February 11, 2010 with her daughters and a grandson at her bedside. Her family truly believes Texas has lost one of its many treasures. Virginia was born February 6, 1926 in New Braunfels, Texas to Charles and Ruby Shoemake. She loved telling stories of her childhood summers in the Hill Country near Kendalia. After graduation from Odessa High School in 1941, she pursued nursing training in San Angelo. On April 17, 1943, she married Billy Vance Chaney of Goldsmith. Their daughters, Kathie and Jorganna were born while Bill was in the Army Air Corp as a glider pilot and instructor. After spending 6 years in the oil field, Bill decided he wanted to be a farmer so the family moved to Bonham, Texas, January 1953. Virginia worked as the administrator of SB Allen Memorial Hospital while Bill tried his hand at farming. After 9 years of struggling on the farm, Bill decided to go back to the oil field but this time in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana. Yet again the family sold the farm and moved to Lake Charles, Louisiana. An even greater adventure was about to begin. Bill and Virginia headed overseas to work in the oil field. They lived in six African countries, England, Scotland, and Brazil over a 23 year period. Virginia went from milking 12 to 14 cows twice a day to playing golf and winning numerous trophies. While playing at St. Andrews in Scotland, she had a hole in one. Upon retirement in 1985, Bill and Virginia came to the Hill Country looking for the perfect place. Boerne without a doubt won hands down. Their home is on the Guadalupe River between Boerne and Kendalia. Virginia was very active for many years in the Art League, playing Bunco, and the Texas Educational Extension Club. Cooking, sewing, crocheting, and reading were her passions.
