Virginia Stewart

                                    Helen Virginia Studebaker Stewart (1923-2024)

Helen Virginia Studebaker Stewart went to heaven on February 24, 2024. Virginia was born on February 26, 1923 in Pittsburg, Kansas to Ezra and Mildred Studebaker. She was the fifth of eight children. She was raised in Neosho, Missouri before the family moved to Raymondville, Texas in 1937 to farm in the Rio Grande Valley. She graduated from Raymondville High School in 1941.

Virginia married the love of her life, Larry Stewart, on August 29,1946. In their almost fifty-nine years together, the couple raised three children, pursued real estate ventures from Texas to Colorado, owned and operated many hotels, motels and recreational properties, planted and built churches from Raymondville to Ouray, Colorado and supported Rudy Hernandez Evangelism International (RHEI) spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Virginia served as a long-time board member of RHEI and served on many church committees. She spent most of her adult life playing the piano at the churches she attended and taught children's Sunday School into her nineties.

Virginia loved the water so the couple built the first of many homes in Key Allegro in 1968 and would call Rockport-Fulton, Texas home for the remainder of their lives.

The most valuable title she held was that of being "Granny" and later became known as great-Granny or "GG" for short. She loved spending time with all her grandchildren, and they visited often through the end of her life even celebrating her 101 birthday in early February.

Virginia is preceded in death by her husband, James Lawrence Stewart; daughter Jenelle Stewart Mundine; grandson, James Matthew Stewart. She is survived by her sister, Shirley (Don) Phillips; brother, Joe Studebaker; son, Larry (Rosemary) Stewart; son-in-law, Harold Mundine; son, Benet (Melinda) Stewart; grandchildren, Tamara (Michael) Johnston; Bethany (James) Ahern; Cody (Megan) Stewart, Ginny (Stetson) Rasberry, Sharon (Junior) Walls; Zachary Stewart; Timothy (Amanda) Stewart; 17 great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.

Visitation and viewing will be held at Coastal Oaks Church on Saturday, March 2nd from 6pm-8pm. The graveside service will be on Sunday, March 3rd at 2pm at the Rockport Cemetery. Pallbearers are Cody Stewart, Zachary Stewart, Timothy Stewart, Junior Walls, Michael Johnston, Stetson Rasberry, and Bradley Thedin. Service will be officiated by Rev. Ruben Hernandez.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Coastal Oaks Church 2002 FM 3036 Rockport, Texas 78382 or RHEI 3005 Silver Springs Lane Richardson, Texas 75082.