Virginia Lally Alwood Strausbaugh, 90, was ushered home as a “blonde” to be with our Lord and Savior on December 17, 2022. She passed away peacefully with hope in her heart and her family by her side. She was born on August 17, 1932, in Bunker Hill, Kansas, to the late Margaret and Walter Lally and was predeceased by her son, John Alwood, Jr., and her sister, Dorothy Lally Ness.

Ginger was the middle child of three siblings and grew up in York, Pennsylvania, where she attended and graduated from York Catholic High School. Many of her summer days were spent visiting the family farm in Westminster, MD, chasing both cousins and chickens. Like many Catholic ladies of that era, she went on to fulfill and enjoy her responsibility as a wife and mother raising seven children in the northeastern town of Newport, Rhode Island.

In 1964, the family moved from Rhode Island to Virginia Beach, VA, via a once-in-a-lifetime vacation to the New York’s World’s Fair. After settling into the new town and with most of her children in school, Ginger enrolled in a nearby beauty academy and became the neighborhood hairdresser. Every friend became her client, and every client became her friend. The back of the house had a revolving door for anyone who needed to get their hair washed, dried, permed, or set! Some years later, she found her niche in retail and became the manager of a local luggage store, Penn’s Luggage at Hilltop, where the store sales excelled year after year under her stewardship. As time went by and some health challenges took their toll, she was forced to leave the pace of the retail world behind. Ginger began taking care of children at Star of the Sea Catholic School in their afterschool program and then later at St. John the Apostle Catholic School. Once again, falling in love with the young children and their imaginative minds. Playing board games with them was one of her specialties and a favorite pastime, playing more than one game at a time with the little ones.

Her relationship with Jesus, along with her family, filled her life. Most days you would find her cheering on one of her grandchildren at a sporting event or praying and encouraging friends at Bible studies she led in her home. If there was a Bible Study being held in town, she was there. She was a member of the Virginia Beach and Chesapeake Christian Women’s Club for over 30 years, a CCD teacher, and a confirmation sponsor at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church. Ginger enjoyed gathering with her family and friends for birthdays, holiday parties, and Sunday dinners where a Scrabble board was never far from her reach. Her cup was overflowing with contentment and gratitude, and her peaceful life of faith made a powerful impact on those around her. She will be lovingly remembered by her family and friends as a devoted wife, mother, daughter, and Nani.

Left to cherish her memory are her children, Keith (Cassie) Strausbaugh, Steve (Debi) Strausbaugh, Sharon Moore, Debbie (Tack) Holt, Diane (Nicholas) Alley, and Brenda (Mike) Gargiulo, her grandchildren, Carmen (Abby) Garcia, Meghan Moore, Keith Strausbaugh, Matthew (Leslie) Moore, Kyle (Amanda) Strausbaugh, Erin Strausbaugh, Brad Strausbaugh, Kirsten (Ryan) Becker, Paige (Nate) Shue, Abby (Evan) Harris, Michael Gargiulo, and her great-grandchildren, Gabriella Garcia, Carmen Garcia III, Dean Strausbaugh, Colt Strausbaugh, Matthew Moore, Drew Becker, and Calvin Moore, her brother Burl (Pam) Lally, and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the staff at Our Lady of Perpetual Help and the staff at Westminster Canterbury Hospice for the kind and benevolent care she received during her stay. A sweet and special thank you to Adriana of Bliss Home Health Care for her genuine love, care, and concern for Ginger in her final years.

Mass and funeral services will be held on Monday, January 9th at 11:00 a.m. at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, 1968 Sandbridge Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23456, with a reception immediately following at the church. In lieu of flowers, contributions are being accepted for Alzheimer’s research through Angels for a Cure. To support their ongoing efforts and annual fundraiser, please visit their site at http://act.alz.org/goto/RAULANGELSFORTHECURE.