Virginia Lee Couch Shields
Virginia Lee Couch Shields
December 5, 1931 — January 26, 2019
Virginia (Ginny) Lee Shields passed away Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019, at Celeste Care's Memory
Unit in Horseshoe Bay, Texas.
Virginia was the daughter of Allie and William Couch, born Dec. 5, 1931, in Maitland,
Missouri. Upon graduation from Maitland High School, Virginia headed west to Los Angeles,
California to join her married sister Margie. Through her brother in law Jim Lang, and Margie, she
found employment with Fireman's Fund Insurance Company where they were all employed.
This was the beginning of her career in insurance covering forty-eight years, the majority of
her career being an insurance broker was with the brokerage firm Wellington Agencies located in
Los Angeles.
Besides her business career, Virginia loved her daughters, in addition to enjoying gardening,
home decoration, Christmas, and listening to Frank Sinatra. She was always up for a lively and
spirited discussion with or without a glass of wine or an old fashion in hand; one always knew
where Virginia "stood "on the issues and knew friendship always meant more than a difference in
point of view.
Upon retirement, she enjoyed morning walks with her neighbors along the trails
near her home in Torrance, California. She also became involved with raising a Maltese puppy
named Muffin III that quickly became her constant companion. Besides keeping in touch with
her childhood friends, she also enjoyed discussing and researching her family history, and
insuring the graves of her family were always decorated on Memorial Day. Virginia and Jim
moved to Horseshoe Bay, Texas upon Jim's retirement from Travelers Insurance in 2005, so as
to be closer to family. Moving to Texas after 50 plus years in California was a challenge Virginia
accepted as an excuse to go shopping. Virginia was considered by many as a clean freak and
more than once provided the Visiting Angels with "this is the way we do it" teaching moment
causing the Visiting Angel to comment "in the day she must have been hell on wheels.” Her
spirit and feistiness will always be remembered by every person who knew her.
Virginia was preceded in death by her father, William Couch; her mother Allie; sisters, Aline,
Marjorie, Anna Rose; a brother, Marshall; and her oldest daughter, Nanette Rochelle Saltoon.
Virginia is survived by her loving husband, James (Jim) R. Shields, who would have celebrated
their 43rd wedding anniversary this coming April. She is also survived by her daughter, Marcia
(Marci) Fontaine of Wilmington, North Carolina; her nephews, Dick McElroy of Parkville, Missouri, Jack McElroy of Clearmont, Missouri, Richard Lang of Creston, California, Phil Lang of San Luis Obispo, California, Chuck Thompson of Des Moines, Iowa, and niece Marilyn Groshong of St. Joseph, Missouri; along with numerous great-nephews and great-nieces.
The family would like to extend their gratitude to Dr. Ryan Copeland and Dr. Peyton Delaney for
their care and counsel throughout Virginia's battle with Alzheimer's. A special thank you is
extended to the caregivers at Celeste Care's Memory Unit, New Century Hospice, Wesley Respite Group, Visiting Angels, Texas Home Health and her friends for giving loving care during her final days.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, 201 Dalton Circle, Horseshoe Bay, Texas, on Saturday, Feb. 9, at 10 a.m. with burial service being private at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Harvard, Illinois at a later date. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clements Wilcox Funeral Home, Marble Falls.
