Obituary of Virginia Edna Keith

KEITH: Virginia Edna (nee Gibb)

Passed away at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre on Tuesday March 6, 2018.  Virginia Keith of Lakefield in her 88^th year. Virginia (Ginny to some) was born in Boston and met her husband there during his studies. They were married in 1955 and served internationally with the Canadian Baptist Overseas Mission Board for forty years, on five continents. Both she and her husband, Dr. John F. Keith, taught in English, Portuguese and French with periods of residence in Portugal, Angola, Congo-DRC, Kenya, Yugoslavia, Slovakia and Croatia. Assignments also took them to India, Bolivia, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Russia, Ukraine, Latvia, Estonia, Rwanda and Albania. During John’s decade of tenure as General Secretary of Canadian Baptist Missions, she was the anchor of the family in her work as a reference librarian in the Burlington Public Library. Loved and missed by her husband of 63 years, John Frederick Keith.  Lovingly remembered by her children Carol Rigby (Bruce) of Maberly, Shirley Humble (Timothy) of Oakville and John Gordon Keith of Peterborough.  Loving grandmother of Geoffrey and Stephen Rigby, Jennifer Sifft (Jason), T.J. Humble, Alexandra Galley (Seth), Andrew and Ben Keith.  Loved by her great-granddaughters Adelaide and Vivian Sifft.  Survived by her brother George Gibb (Carolyn) of California and her sister Edith M. Johnson (Rev. Gordon) of Florida.  Predeceased by her parents George and Esther Gibb.  Cremation has taken place.  Relatives and friends may call at THE HENDREN FUNERAL HOMES, LAKEFIELD CHAPEL, 66 Queen Street, Lakefield on Friday March 9, 2018 from 6:30 – 8:30 PM.  A funeral service will be held at LAKEFIELD BAPTIST CHURCH, 36 Regent St., Lakefield on Saturday March 10, 2018 at 11:00 AM.  A reception will follow in the fellowship hall of the church.  Memorial donations may be made to Canadian Baptist Ministries and are designated by the family to be used for scholarships for women students from the Middle East and North Africa studying at the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary in Beirut, Lebanon. Donations may be made online at http://www.cbmin.org (or mailed to Canadian Baptist Ministries, 7185 Millcreek Drive, Mississauga, ON L5N 5R4) and expressions of sympathy may be made by contacting the funeral home at www.hendrenfuneralhome.com or by calling 705-652-3355.