Virginia Ann (Ginnie) Neely

Virginia Ann (Ginnie) Neely, 95, of Meadville, passed away peacefully on June 9, 2023.

Ginnie was born in Meadville January 15, 1928, a daughter of Arthur and Anna Dutch Batchelor.  She attended East End Elementary School and graduated from Meadville High School in 1944.

She worked at Moore’s Dairy and Talon before attending Edinboro State Teacher’s College.  Ginnie graduated with an Art Education degree and she taught elementary art in Ellwood City for two years.  A change in career took her to Rochester, NY to the commercial art department of Kodak.  During that time, Ginnie went on a bike tour through the New England states, staying in hostels.  She also went on a month-long trip to Europe, sightseeing her way through various countries.

On December 28, 1957, she married Rell Neely at Grace United Methodist Church in Meadville.  They resided in Cleveland and Ginnie worked for Ohio Bell, doing advertising art, until her two daughters were born.  In 1969, the family moved back to Meadville to raise their children.  In the 1970’s, Ginnie began to work at Carlisle’s Department Store which she retired from about twenty years later.

Rell and Ginnie enjoyed traveling, especially to Florida and Arizona during the winter months.  They moved to Conneaut Lake, and both Ginnie and Rell worked at the Hotel Conneaut for several summers.  She also stayed busy volunteering with the Linesville Rotary, Conneaut Lake Area Historical Society, CEFC Mops/Moppet program, and MMC Auxiliary (MMC coffee shop and charity follies).

Ginnie and Rell were long-time members of Emmanuel United Church of Christ.  Ginnie enjoyed every opportunity to spend time with her beloved family.  Her genuine care for others will be remembered by anyone who knew her.  A friend of Ginnie’s was a friend forever.

Survivors include two daughters, Janice Arnett and companion, Bill Vittorio, of Linesville and Ginelle Gillette and her husband Ted of Meadville; six grandchildren, Jonathan Arnett (Amy Buchanon), Samantha Campbell (John), Heidi Marcinick (Matt), Tanya Gillette (Joshua Duffie), Lydia Gingerich (Brandon) and Andrew Gillette; a step-granddaughter, Audria Arnett; three great-grandchildren, Dakota Arnett, Levi Marcinick, and Catherine Campbell; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by an infant son, Brian Allen Neely; a son-in-law, Joe Arnett; and her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Bob and Vae Batchelor.

Calling hours will be Tuesday, June 13th from 4-7 p.m. and Wednesday, June 14th from 10-11 a.m. at the ROBERT W. WAID FUNERAL HOME, 581 CHESTNUT ST., MEADVILLE.

The funeral service will be Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. Jeff Wilson, Pastor of the Saegertown Evangelical Free Church, officiating.

Interment will be in Roselawn Memorial Gardens.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Crawford County (for the Marquette Hospice House), 766 Liberty St., Meadville, PA 16335.

Memories and condolences may be shared at www.waidfuneralhome.net