Ginny (Herriger) Underhill

Ginny Underhill was born Virginia Anne Herriger on December 8, 1937, in Hazlet, New Jersey.  She graduated from Keyport (New Jersey) High School where she was the editor of the yearbook and had earned the nickname “Miss Small”.  Soon after graduating, she met Ron Underhill at a USO dance near where he was stationed at Ft. Monmouth, New Jersey.  And they were married on July 6, 1957.

While Ronnie was stationed overseas, Ginny stayed in New Jersey and worked as a secretary at the Department of Child Welfare and later as a bookkeeper/secretary at the historic Molly Pitcher Inn in Red Bank, New Jersey.

After returning from Korea, Ron and Ginny moved to southern California where they had their four children - Pam, Jill, Vicki and Gary.  In 1971, the Underhill’s moved to the Underhill family farm near Scottsville, Kansas.  Farm life was quite an adjustment for this city girl.  She even wrote a short story about the experience on the farm entitled “Pigs in the Pantry”.

In addition to being involved with her kids’ school and 4-H activities, Ginny was also active in several local clubs and organizations including Aspasia, Garden Club, the Tree Board, Willow Springs Art Council and PEO.  Ginny was an active member of the United Methodist Church in Beloit participating in United Methodist Women’s Circle (UMW), youth group (MYF) and Friendship Meals.

Ginny worked at Mitchell County Hospital in the kitchen as a dietary aide, Peoples Lumber Yard as a bookkeeper and Pawnee Mental Health Services as a secretary.

She loved flower gardening, sewing, crafting and collecting.  She has displayed many of her collections at the Guaranty State Bank including snowmen, Santa Claus’, seashells, Coca Cola memorabilia and lighthouses.

Ginny loved the ocean, beach and cruising.  She and Ron embarked on over 42 cruises all over the world in her lifetime.

Ginny spent much of her retirement years volunteering with the TLC Barefoot School in Port Au Prince, Haiti.  She was a member of the board and served as the treasurer for several years.  Over the years, she made several mission trips with Ronnie and other community members to serve the school in Haiti.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Loris R. “Ron” Underhill, her son-in-law Mark Jackson, as well as her parents Charles and Mildred Herriger, and four older brothers.  She is survived by her four children Pam (Steve) Kraus, Jill (Leonce) Jean-Baptiste, Vicki Jackson and Gary (Donise) Underhill.  She was grandma to Kevin (Rebecca) and Amy Kraus; Michael, Thierry and Ally Jean-Baptiste; Melissa, Morgan, RJ and Ryan Jackson; and Andrew and Haley Underhill; and three great-grandchildren.

Her final few months were spent making new friends and enjoying the activities at Nicol Home in Glasco, Kansas.  Her children are forever grateful for the wonderful care she received from the nurses and staff of the Nicol Home and Solomon Valley Hospice.

A Celebration of life will be held on Friday, December 22 at 3:00 p.m at the Beloit Methodist Church in Beloit, Kansas. Memorials may be made to the Nicol Home or Solomon Valley Transportation in care of Schoen Funeral Home And Monuments.