Virginia Rae Niles
Virginia Rae Jenkins Niles was born July 29, 1926 and passed peacefully with beauty and grace into the arms of Jesus, June 9, 2019. She was the second child of Perry Jenkins and Esther Davis Jenkins. Virginia was born on the family farm in Beaver County, Oklahoma and had five brothers and sisters; Arthur, Coeta, Barbara, Lyndell and Cheryl. She attended school in Booker, Texas and Beaver, Oklahoma. She graduated from Beaver High School in 1944 and married her high school sweetheart, Harold Dean Niles, on October 22, 1946. They were married 72 ½ years. Together they had four children, Deana, Brenda, Brent, and Stacey. Virginia loved making her house a home and all who entered felt welcomed. She was a wonderful cook and enjoyed entertaining. Hospitality was her gift. While in Beaver, she worked at VanDeburgh Real Estate and the Beaver County Nursing Home as a receptionist and secretary. She also babysat many children in her home. In Edmond, she worked for Oklahoma Christian College as secretary to the Dean of Students until retirement in 1992. She found positivity and happiness in every job she had. She enjoyed people and her smile and friendly disposition was a blessing to all. While at OC she became the sponsor for the Women of Gamma Rho social service club and continued that roll for many years after retirement. She loved those girls and they loved her. She and Dean had many fun times accompanying Gamma on overnight outings, banquets and other activities. Virginia’s hospitality and calling to help those in need blessed many throughout the years. She opened her home to adopted college students, traveling evangelist, missionaries and anyone who needed a place to stay. She devoted herself to all kinds of good deeds.
In retirement, she and Dean traveled extensively throughout the United States and abroad. She always thought of others and loved buying souvenirs for her children and grandchildren. She took many pictures and kept a travel journal wherever they went. Along with their lifelong friends, Paxson and Opal Fae Gordon, Virginia and Dean took mission trips to Sibiu, Romania for eight years where she taught youngsters and adult ladies about Jesus. She had a passion for mission work and fell in love with the people there. She was known as a giving person who often put the needs of others before her own. She cared for and served her family and friends with a special spirit. Her acts of kindness, generosity, and loyalty endeared herself to many throughout her life. Virginia’s husband, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were her joy. Her love of God, family, friends and treating others with kindness is a gift she is passing on through generations.
Virginia is preceded in death by her parents, her sister Barbara Altman, brother-in-law Ted Altman, sister-in-law Mariam Jenkins, grandbaby Mercy B. Knight and son-in-law Chris Bolen. She is survived by her devoted husband Dean Niles, children, Deana Olsen and husband Larry, Brenda Bolen, Brent Niles and wife Cindy, and Stacey Knight and husband David, along with her siblings, Arthur Jenkins and wife Grace, Coeta Akridge, Lyndell Jenkins, and Cheryl Slovacek and husband Bob. Her eleven grandchildren who lovingly call her “Honey”, Todd Olsen and wife Sandy, Chad Williams and wife Heather, Aubree Danielson and husband Brian, Aaron Niles, Tyler Knight and wife Lauren, Rhett Bolen and wife Elizabeth, Tara Quattlebaum and husband Craig, Ashley Newell and husband Ketric, Tessa Roberts and husband Jake, Amy Gillett and husband Wes, and Alycia Maurer and husband Robert, twenty-six great grandchildren and many loving nieces and nephews.
Virginia’s celebration of life will be June 13, 10:00 AM at Edmond Church of Christ with interment to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. Viewing will be June 12, 5-7 PM at Matthew’s Funeral Home in Edmond. If led to give a monetary gift in remembrance, please direct gifts to the Edmond Church of Christ Missions. For those who cannot attend, live streaming will be available. Go to the Edmond Church of Christ YouTube channel or edmondchurchofchrist.com under the media section.
To her precious caretakers, Autumn Leaves, The Timbers and Alpha Hospice, the family thanks you and are forever grateful.