Virginia L. McKinnie

Virginia Louise (Cleary) McKinnie of San Antonio, Texas passed away peacefully at home on November 7, 2022, her 78th birthday. She was born in Bloomington, Illinois on November 7, 1944 to James (“Ed”) and Sadie Cleary and grew up in Washington, Illinois where she attended St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and associated grade school. She was a 1962 graduate of Washington Community High School where she developed numerous lifelong friends. After graduation, she attended beautician school in Chicago and with the help of her mother, started a business as a hairdresser. She later worked as a secretary at Caterpillar’s East Peoria plant where she met her husband, Lynn.

Virginia and Lynn married in 1966. She was a deeply dedicated and loving wife which showed in the life and family they built together. Their 56 years of marriage blessed them with four sons, seven grandchildren and countless adventures living in Peoria, Illinois; Richmond, Virginia; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Memphis, Tennessee; Portland, Texas; and ultimately San Antonio. Virginia loved being a mother and was a fierce advocate for her sons as she taught them how to be good people and the value of education. When she wasn’t supporting her sons in extra-curricular activities or volunteering in numerous school and church related activities, she enjoyed gardening, baking, and visiting with her friends through lunch and phone calls. Virginia’s selflessness, patience, dedication, and love raised her four boys into successful men in both their personal and professional lives.

Later in life, Virginia returned to the workforce and served 18 years as a teacher’s aide at Encino Park and Northern Hills Elementary Schools before retiring in 2010. She truly enjoyed providing one on one instruction to help kids improve in math, science, reading, and social studies. She particularly enjoyed assisting and teaching kids with special needs. Numerous teachers and administrators relied on and trusted Virginia to help their students achieve educational goals. She cherished the many friendships cultivated during this time and looked upon them all very fondly.

Virginia is survived by her beloved husband, Lynn McKinnie of San Antonio; her brother James Cleary and his wife Jan of Tomahawk, Wisconsin; her children, James McKinnie and his wife Jane of Cabot, Arkansas, John McKinnie and his wife Melissa of Houston, Jeffrey McKinnie and his wife Davi of San Antonio, and Jason McKinnie and his wife Kendra of San Antonio; her grandchildren Michael, Ellen and her husband Kyle, Daniel, Caroline, Meredith, Charlie, and Juliette; and numerous cousins, extended family, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents James (“Ed”) and Sadie Cleary and her niece Tiffany (Cleary) Kloster.

The Funeral service will be Friday, December 9, 2022 at 11 AM at Sunset North Funeral Home located at 910 N Loop 1604 E, San Antonio, TX 78232 with a welcoming starting at 10 AM. The interment will occur at Fort Sam Houston Cemetery at 1:30 PM for family. St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Washington, Illinois will have a Mass dedicated in her honor on December 28, 2022 at 7 AM.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alternative Learning Environment (ALE) at Northern Hills Elementary School. Donations may be made through the following link:

https://everloved.com/life-of/virginia-mckinnie/donate/

If you wish to contribute directly via check, please make checks payable to “Northern Hills Elementary” with a designation in the memo line stating “ALE program in memory of Virginia McKinnie.” Please mail checks to:

Northern Hills Elementary

13901 Higgins Road

San Antonio, TX 78217

ATTN: Nicole Cervera

Phone # 210-407-5200

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.SunsetNorthFuneralHome.com for the McKinnie family.