Virginia Phelps

Former Sharon Springs, KS resident Virginia Cox Phelps, 84, passed away on Monday, June 18, 2018 at the Avantara Crown Point Nursing Home in Parker, Colorado.

Virginia was born on November 9, 1933 in Skidmore, TX to Jasper and Marie (Natho) Curbello.  She was the eighth child of ten born to this union.  She grew up and attended school in Skidmore, Texas and graduated from Skidmore-Tynan High School in 1952.

Shortly thereafter Virginia attained certification as a nurse’s aide and worked at the Bee County Hospital in Beeville, TX. While working there, she met and married Marine Corps Lieutenant Frank Rinne who subsequently died while on a training mission 8 weeks later. Not long after, Virginia was hired by Ralph Cox to care for his terminally ill wife Joan and their daughter, Terry. Joan soon passed away and the situation provided for a caring friendship that would eventually develop into courtship and marriage to Ralph. Born to Ralph and Virginia were two boys, Gary and James. From Texas, the family moved to North Carolina for a short period of time, eventually landing in Northern California. Ralph met an untimely death in 1970 and not long after she moved herself and the boys nearer to Ralph’s family roots in Wallace County.  Before meeting and marrying Ludia Phelps of Corpus Christi TX., Virginia was married to Everett Linton of Sharon Springs and Glen Elder, KS.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Jasper and Marie Curbello, three husbands, Frank Rinne, Ralph Cox and Ludia Phelps, her son Gary Cox, seven siblings and one grandson Billy Wininger.

She is survived by her son James (Cynthia) Cox of Parker, Colorado, daughter Terry (Michael) Wininger of Depoe Bay, Oregon, daughter-in-law Belinda Cox of Wallace, Kansas, one brother Ross (Shirley) Curbello of Three Rivers, Texas and one sister Nancy (Hal) Toomey of Corpus Christi, Texas.  She is also survived by seven grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.

Virginia liked to garden and crochet. She made beautiful afghans for many family members.