- Born on: December 19, 1929
- Departed on: March 20, 2016
- Resided in: Marshalltown, IA
Virginia Smalldridge
Virginia Louise Smalldridge, age 86 of Marshalltown Iowa, lovingly known as “Mom” by family and friends, died unexpectedly on Sunday, March 20, 2016. She was a resident of the Iowa Veterans Home, where she had been living with her husband Bearl for the past two months. Her cause of death is uncertain, but is believed to have been due to cardiovascular complications.
Mom was born on December 19, 1929 in Marion County, Indiana, to the late Fred and Estella Cooney. While attending God's Bible School, she met Bearl Darwin Smalldridge and discovered they both had a calling to be missionaries to Africa. Their romance blossomed and in 1950 they married and over time were blessed with six children. Their first two children, Rebekah and Paul, were born before leaving for the mission field in the West Indies. After returning to the States, Bernice was born while Mom was completing her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and Sharon followed shortly after. During this time, Bearl traveled extensively doing evangelical work in the States. Jonathan was born before moving the family to the remote jungle area of Poe River Beach, Liberia, Africa where their youngest child Rachel was born. Mom’s faith in God and her courage in the face of daunting circumstances enabled her to care for her young children while managing the mission, especially since Bearl was gone for months at a time doing evangelical work. Her children remain amazed at her incredible endurance in an era before cell phones and in an area where cannibalism was still thriving.
Mom's organizational skills and phenomenal work ethic were the driving force behind the couple's accomplishments both on the foreign mission field and their religious projects in the States. As missionaries in Liberia and Cameroon, they built churches, orphanages, large primary and secondary schools, clinics, air strips, and other projects that improved the quality of life in the community. After returning to the States, Mom worked in the public schools as a first grade teacher for twenty years. During this time, she attained her Master's Degree in Education Administration from UCLA and assisted Bearl in completing his Doctorate in Theology. Mom and Dad shared their hearts and home with many foster children for over ten years and remember them with great fondness. In addition, they sponsored three former students from Cameroon by bringing them to the States and helping to finance their college educations. They continued to support Christian programs with substantial financial contributions and Mom "held down the fort" while Bearl pursued evangelical ministries in Uganda, Somalia, Kenya, Philippines, India and Russia. In 1988 they bought a wilderness ranch in San Diego and started a training program for prospective missionaries, as well as providing a place of refuge for the homeless and less fortunate. They also supported local churches by establishing an area for church retreats. In 2003, Mom and Dad moved to Iowa to be near their daughter Rachel and her children. Their daughter Rebekah and her husband Daniel took over the ranch to establish a prayer sanctuary and place of refuge for battered women and children.
After Mom and Dad moved to Iowa, the Cedar fire, which devastated much of San Diego County, swept through the ranch and destroyed everything they had built. From the proceeds of the insurance money they purchased the Lion & Lamb Bed and Breakfast from Rachel and loved their roles as inn keepers until the business was closed in 2010. With the remainder of the ranch funds, they gave heavily to mission projects in various parts of the world.
Even though she was supposed to be retiring, Mom's passion for service led her to rise early and cook and clean enthusiastically at the Lion & Lamb. She truly had a servant's heart and sought ways that she could help those she believed to be needy. She often showed her love for others by feeding them as she was a tireless cook. Mom and Dad loved the local church, Harvest Christian Fellowship, where they faithfully attended for ten years. After suffering a stroke Mom continued to help in the Lion & Lamb and was fortunate that Rachel provided her tremendous support while managing and overseeing the business. After closing the business the home continued to be a wonderful place for family and friends to gather. When Rachel and her family moved to Arizona, Sharon and her husband Patrick continued to look after Mom and Dad for the next six years. Because both Mom and Dad were requiring a greater level of care they moved into Sharon’s home in Marshalltown where they lived until it was necessary for them to move into the Iowa Veterans Home.
Two months later, after a beautiful Spring day that she spent with her Sharon, and after speaking with her children by phone and enjoying connecting with them, Mom quietly slipped away from this world later that evening. One minute she was here and the next she had crossed over. She leaves an empty place in the hearts of so many who knew her.
Mom is survived by her husband Bearl Smalldridge and her sister Rose Reiser, her six children Rebekah Sutton, Paul Smalldridge, Bernice Drake, Sharon McGill, Jonathan Smalldridge, Rachel Waterbury, their many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as their many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her father Fred Cooney and her mother Estella Simon Cooney, her sister Phyllis Lloyd and her brother Fred Cooney, Jr.
We are having a memorial service for Mom on Thursday, April 7, 2016 at Harvest Christian Fellowship, in Vinton, IA at 11:00 am. We look forward to seeing family and loved ones. The following day at 10:30 there will be an internment of her ashes at Iowa Veterans Home, in Marshalltown, IA. If further information is needed, please contact Sharon Smalldridge McGill at 319-560-9561 or Patrick at 319-540-6610.
Mom was born on December 19, 1929 in Marion County, Indiana, to the late Fred and Estella Cooney. While attending God's Bible School, she met Bearl Darwin Smalldridge and discovered they both had a calling to be missionaries to Africa. Their romance blossomed and in 1950 they married and over time were blessed with six children. Their first two children, Rebekah and Paul, were born before leaving for the mission field in the West Indies. After returning to the States, Bernice was born while Mom was completing her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and Sharon followed shortly after. During this time, Bearl traveled extensively doing evangelical work in the States. Jonathan was born before moving the family to the remote jungle area of Poe River Beach, Liberia, Africa where their youngest child Rachel was born. Mom’s faith in God and her courage in the face of daunting circumstances enabled her to care for her young children while managing the mission, especially since Bearl was gone for months at a time doing evangelical work. Her children remain amazed at her incredible endurance in an era before cell phones and in an area where cannibalism was still thriving.
Mom's organizational skills and phenomenal work ethic were the driving force behind the couple's accomplishments both on the foreign mission field and their religious projects in the States. As missionaries in Liberia and Cameroon, they built churches, orphanages, large primary and secondary schools, clinics, air strips, and other projects that improved the quality of life in the community. After returning to the States, Mom worked in the public schools as a first grade teacher for twenty years. During this time, she attained her Master's Degree in Education Administration from UCLA and assisted Bearl in completing his Doctorate in Theology. Mom and Dad shared their hearts and home with many foster children for over ten years and remember them with great fondness. In addition, they sponsored three former students from Cameroon by bringing them to the States and helping to finance their college educations. They continued to support Christian programs with substantial financial contributions and Mom "held down the fort" while Bearl pursued evangelical ministries in Uganda, Somalia, Kenya, Philippines, India and Russia. In 1988 they bought a wilderness ranch in San Diego and started a training program for prospective missionaries, as well as providing a place of refuge for the homeless and less fortunate. They also supported local churches by establishing an area for church retreats. In 2003, Mom and Dad moved to Iowa to be near their daughter Rachel and her children. Their daughter Rebekah and her husband Daniel took over the ranch to establish a prayer sanctuary and place of refuge for battered women and children.
After Mom and Dad moved to Iowa, the Cedar fire, which devastated much of San Diego County, swept through the ranch and destroyed everything they had built. From the proceeds of the insurance money they purchased the Lion & Lamb Bed and Breakfast from Rachel and loved their roles as inn keepers until the business was closed in 2010. With the remainder of the ranch funds, they gave heavily to mission projects in various parts of the world.
Even though she was supposed to be retiring, Mom's passion for service led her to rise early and cook and clean enthusiastically at the Lion & Lamb. She truly had a servant's heart and sought ways that she could help those she believed to be needy. She often showed her love for others by feeding them as she was a tireless cook. Mom and Dad loved the local church, Harvest Christian Fellowship, where they faithfully attended for ten years. After suffering a stroke Mom continued to help in the Lion & Lamb and was fortunate that Rachel provided her tremendous support while managing and overseeing the business. After closing the business the home continued to be a wonderful place for family and friends to gather. When Rachel and her family moved to Arizona, Sharon and her husband Patrick continued to look after Mom and Dad for the next six years. Because both Mom and Dad were requiring a greater level of care they moved into Sharon’s home in Marshalltown where they lived until it was necessary for them to move into the Iowa Veterans Home.
Two months later, after a beautiful Spring day that she spent with her Sharon, and after speaking with her children by phone and enjoying connecting with them, Mom quietly slipped away from this world later that evening. One minute she was here and the next she had crossed over. She leaves an empty place in the hearts of so many who knew her.
Mom is survived by her husband Bearl Smalldridge and her sister Rose Reiser, her six children Rebekah Sutton, Paul Smalldridge, Bernice Drake, Sharon McGill, Jonathan Smalldridge, Rachel Waterbury, their many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as their many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her father Fred Cooney and her mother Estella Simon Cooney, her sister Phyllis Lloyd and her brother Fred Cooney, Jr.
We are having a memorial service for Mom on Thursday, April 7, 2016 at Harvest Christian Fellowship, in Vinton, IA at 11:00 am. We look forward to seeing family and loved ones. The following day at 10:30 there will be an internment of her ashes at Iowa Veterans Home, in Marshalltown, IA. If further information is needed, please contact Sharon Smalldridge McGill at 319-560-9561 or Patrick at 319-540-6610.
