Virginia Lee Pointer was born in St. Louis Missouri on 12 June 1916 at 5:40 AM to Anthony and Lena (Jost) Pointer. Her first home was on Margaretta Ave in St. Louis Missouri where she lived until she reached the age of six. In 1922 the family moved to 5344 Jennings Station Rd (West Walnut Manor) in Jennings Missouri.
Virginia Baby Picture
Virginia attended Fairview School and in 1923 participated in a production of a Tom Thumb Wedding.
Fairview Grade School Production
Both Virginia and her brother Ralph were in the wedding
Ralph Pointer and Virginia Pointer
Virginia and her sister Thelma dressed up for the annual Halloween Party at school
She attended Fairview High School and was class president in her sophomore year of 1931 - 32. She also held the position of Secretary in her junior year, Treasurer in her senior year and graduated in 1934.
1934 Graduation Class
Fairview High School
Virginia Left front row
Fairview High School
Virginia Left front row
The last page of her high school autograph book shows her sense
of humor.
High school autograph book
Sometime the next year she met Ralph Appel, when Bob Lytle brought Ralph out to Jennings to meet a girl that was a friend of Virginia. They were married on 26 November 1936, the wedding taking place in her aunt's house in St. Johns Missouri. Her sister Thelma and Ralph's brother Theodore stood up for them.
Virginia's Wedding potrait
The first years of their marriage was spent in north St. Louis where they attended Cote Brilliant Presbyterian Church and lived in a flat on Elmbank Street. While there David was born in 1942 and Robert was born in 1946. In 1950 they purchase a home in Ferguson which was to become Virginia's home for the next 50 years. In 1952 Donald was born and Gary followed in 1953. Virginia
considered her main job in life raising four sons to adulthood and yet in these years she still found time for various activities.
Appel home in Ferguson
David, Robert, Virginia, Donald, Gary
She was a member of the Ferguson Presbyterian Church and taught Sunday school to kindergartners for over 25 years influencing an entire generation of children. Also at the church she was deaconess and was the study leader in her Circle for over 20 years, in the process she became very knowledgeable in theology.
Ferguson Presbyterian Church
Virginia was a member of Sunnyside Garden Club for over 20 years and each year did the artwork for the cover of their yearly book as well as participating in flower shows and amassing numerous awards over the years. Later she also put her talents to work in a number of florist shops in the Ferguson area.
Virginia at Floral Shop
1967 Sunnyside Garden Club Book
Artwork by Virginia
1968 Sunnyside Garden Club Book
Artwork by Virginia Appel
Virginia many talents included painting, she painted in both oils and watercolors. She called this set Dining Room Birds because they were not real birds but painted to match the color of her dining room.
Dining Room Birds
Virginia Lee Appel
Virginia Lee Appel
In 1969 she became a docent at the Missouri Botanical Garden, giving guided tours for the next 30 years. Through her support of the garden she bacame a Henry Shaw Associate for many years. During her years at the Garden she gained a great knowledge of both the Garden and of plants and botany.
Virginia Fourh from right first row
In June of 1976 all of her children and grandchildren gathered in St. Louis and spent one day at Shaw Garden.
At Shaws Garden at her 60th Birthday
Appel family at Shaws Garden
Virginia's 60th Birthday
With the death of her husband in 1970 she became the independent woman that we all came to know. Virginia was a member of the Board of Directors of Hussmann Distributing Corporation until it was sold back to the parent company. Virginia was an elder in the Presbyterian Church and delivered Meals on Wheel into her seventies often to people many years younger than she was. Her generosity supported many institutions and charities throughout the years. The Muny was also one of her joys and she had season tickets for over 40 years. During these years she also traveled throughout the US and to Germany, fulfilling a wish to see the land of her ancestors. Among her greatest joys was being involved with her 8 grandchildren.
Virginia 1990's
She died on May 2, 2003 at Christian Hospital Northeast in St. Louis County after spending the day with most of her family. The funeral took place at her church and she was buried in Memorial Gardens in Jennings Missouri. In a way Virginia's life had come full circle as she was buried only a few blocks from her childhood home.
Appel Memorial
Memorial Gardens
Jennings, MO
Memorial Gardens
Jennings, MO
