Virginia M. Moore of Battle Creek, Michigan, or "Gin" as she was often called, passed away Monday, December 12, 2016 at the Calhoun County Medical Care Facility. She was 92 years of age, or as she delighted in saying over the years, really only 23 years of age as she was born on February 29, 1924 and so really had a birthday only once every 4 years when leap year day rolled around.

She was born at home, up over the bakery her father operated in Battle Creek in a house on Champion Street which was located in what is now the Historic Adventist Village.

Her parents, Okey & Mabelle Metcalf, had five children of which four survived childhood. Virginia was the last of those four, As a child she moved all around the country in her early years as her father worked at a number of varied jobs and positions in order to adequately provide for his family. Among other things he worked as a self-supporting minister and also ran and also operated a dry cleaning business, opened a bakery, and ran at least two different fruit stands in Florida over the years. Virginia spent a lot time helping with the family businesses and early on learned the value of hard work and honest labor, a value she carried with her for the rest of her life.

On July 2, 1946, Virginia was married in the Battle Creek Tabernacle to Harold Moore who she had known and dated for a number of years. Shortly after their marriage they bought a small house on the west side of Battle Creek and moved to that property which had one acre of land. Half of the land was dedicated to a garden to provide food to freeze or can for the family. After 34 years of marriage, her husband Harold passed away in 1980. Virginia continued to live there for another 30 years until declining health forced a move. She lived with Bruce and Jackie, her son and daughter-in-law, for 4 years and then spent a little under 2 years at Calhoun County Medical Care Facility.

Over the years Virginia worked in door-to-door sales, a position in the experimental laboratory at National Biscuit Company, the Battle Creek Canning Company, Sullivans Ice Cream Shop & then as a baker and cook at Northwestern Public High School for 29 years. She was a dedicated mother and homemaker, loved her Maltese dogs and especially her children and grand-children as they came along. Virginia was well known for her talents in the kitchen. An excellent cook and life-long vegetarian, she was especially known for her vegetarian steaks or "choplets" - all made from scratch using flour and a variety of seasonings. She was outgoing, friendly, and never knew a stranger. When in a crowd she was often the life of the party. She was a life-long member of Battle Creek Tabernacle Seventh-day Adventist church, sang for decades in the choir and often joined her husband in singing duets. She rarely missed attending any program that was going on at the church.

Although her schooling only went through the 8th grade, which was not that uncommon for her generation, she was determined that her children would have a full education. She was very proud that she saw both sons attend Battle Creek Academy for 12 years, then go on to college and advanced studies as well.

Surviving her are her sons: Bruce Moore, of Battle Creek, Michigan and Gary (Gayle) Moore of Harrison, Tennessee. Five Grandchildren: Randy (Tami) Moore of Cleveland, TN, Lori Moore of Brooklyn Center, MN.,
Niki (Tim) Knowlton of Ringgold, GA, Jerica Moore of Grand Terrace, CA. and Travis (Sam) Moore of Grand Terrace, CA. Also 5 great grandchildren: Cooper, Samantha, Reid, Avery, & Olivia.

Funeral services will be held at the Bachman Hebble Funeral Home Chapel on Thursday December 22, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. with Pastor Bill Snyder officiating. Visitation will take place prior to the service from 11:30 - 1:00, and interment will follow at the Bedford Cemetery. Arrangements for the service have been made through Bachman Hebbble Funeral Home. The family would also like to recognize and thank Calhoun county Medical Care Facility Staff and Personnel for their excellent and compassionate care. The family is suggesting that in lieu of flowers memorial contributions might be made to the Battle Creek Academy or Battle Creek Tabernacle