Virginia Lee Grider
Jul 3, 1942 - Apr 25, 2013
Submitted by: Jo Aguirre

Virginia Lee Grider, resident of the McCord community, passed Thursday, April 25, 2013 at the Ponca City Medical Center. She was 70 years of age. 

Virginia was born July 3, 1942 at Tulsa, Oklahoma, the daughter of Robert Martin and Pearline (Neal) Martin. She grew up at several locations around the state of Oklahoma as her father was a supervisor of a road construction company. The family moved to Eufaula, Oklahoma where she met Leon Grider whom she married on March 6, 1961. The couple made their home in Eufaula where they raised their four children. They moved to Dover, Oklahoma where Leon pastored a church before moving to Ponca City in 1991. Leon was the pastor Osage Heights Baptist Church where Virginia remained active even after the loss of her husband in 2004. 

Virginia loved serving as the church secretary and was also in charge of the church’s Vacation Bible School. She had gone to the Falls Creek Baptist Assembly as a cook and counselor for over twenty years. She enjoyed spending time with her family and especially her grandkids and great grandkids. She also worked at the McCord Public School as part-time librarian assistant until her health no longer allowed. 

She is survived by her four children, Brian Grider and wife Stephanie, of Dover, Oklahoma, Sherryl Jackson and husband Kenny, of Ponca City, Wade Grider of Bison, Oklahoma, and David Grider and wife Anne, of Ponca City; grandchildren Joshua Grider and wife Rachel, Aaron Grider and wife Katelyn, Beau Grider, Amanda Grider, Kaylee Grider and Crystal Grider; great grandchildren Savannah, Parker and Logan; one sister, Peggy Corley of Eufaula; two brothers, Virgil Martin and Bobby Martin, both of Eufaula; numerous nieces, nephews, and other extended family. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Pearline Martin; her husband, Leon Grider; one sister, Elizabeth Wright. 

The family will receive visitors from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 28, 2013 at Grace Memorial Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, April 29, 2013 at the Osage Heights Baptist Church, 142 Tapp Road in the Osage. Rev. Harold Hutchins will preside over the service assisted by Larry Lamm. Interment will follow in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel. 

Casket bearers will be Scott Avance, Dewey Wright, Steve Grider, Keith Grider, Michael Johnston and Kyle Johnston. Honorary casket bearers will be Dallas Grider, Bobby Grider and Virgil Martin. 

Memorial contributions may be made in Virginia’s name to Hospice of North Central Oklahoma, 1904 North Union, Suite 103, Ponca City, Oklahoma 74601 or to the Osage Heights Baptist Church, 142 Tapp Road, Ponca City, Oklahoma 74604.