Virginia Rippetoe Currence Higgins "Ginny" age 95 of Galax, Virginia passed away Monday, September 26, 2011 at her home.

Mrs. Higgins was born in Charleston, West Virginia on July 1, 1916 to Curtis and Anna Rippetoe. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husbands William Ward Currence and Carlisle "Buck" Higgins and a sister Helen Hayne Jett.

She is survived by three children from her first marriage to William W. Currence, MD, a daughter Mary Alice Swiger of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; sons and daughters-in-law William Ward & Sally Currence of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Lilburn Philip and Clara Currence of Calabash, North Carolina; two step-daughters and their husbands from her marriage to CW "Buck" Higgins, Becky and Stephen Dorshorst; Peggy and William Rhodes; grandchildren Tilghman Smith; Rob Swiger, Shelby LeDuc; Joshua Currence; Jonathan Currence, Kaitlyn Currence and Mary Alice Currence; seven great-grandchildren; several step-grandchildren; sister Ruth Green of Louisville, Kentucky; brother and sister-in-law Curtis and Betty Rippetoe of Longwood, Florida; several nieces and nephews.

The family would like to sincerely thank her caregivers Debbie Brewer, Stephanie Surratt, Sara Gray, Deidre Delp, Michelle Thompson and Kay Cox. Thank you for the love and care you showed in the last days of her life and for making her laugh.

We gratefully appreciate and wish to acknowledge the many acts of kindness shown to our family. Your expression of love means so much and we thank God for the many blessings of love.

The funeral service will be held Friday, September 30, 2011 at 11:00 AM in the First Baptist Church with Rev. Sam Bartlett and Chaplain Jerry Keegan officiating. Burial will follow in the Felts Memorial Cemetery. The family will receive friends Friday from 10:00 AM until service time at the First Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to the Backpack Buddies, P.O. Box 2 Galax, Virginia 24333.