Virginia Silverthorne

Virginia M. Silverthorne, age 93, of Greenville, passed away Friday morning, April 20, 2012 at Spectrum Health-United Hospital in Greenville with her family at her side. The daughter of Ralph & Hazel (Williamson) Gage, she was born on Dec. 16, 1918 in Highland Park, Michigan. At the age of six months, Virginia's family moved to Delavan, Wisconsin where she attended school and graduated in 1935. Virginia then earned her bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin and with her first husband owned and operated The Cedar Springs Clipper from 1955-64. She then returned to college and earned her teaching certification and was a school librarian in Cedar Springs and retired from Greenville Public Schools where she taught 7th and 8th grade English and Reading. Her life-long love of the written word was evidenced in her love of reading... as well as correcting others' grammar and spoken language. On April 28, 1972, in Greenville, she married Ethan F. Silverthorne and together they enjoyed almost 40 years of marriage. Virginia was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Greenville since 1974 and had been active in the Rebecca Circle, as well as enjoying league bowling, golf, and had been a gifted singer in her younger years. She was preceded in death by her parents; and a brother, Douglas Gage. Surviving are her husband, Ethan Silverthorne of Greenville; her children, Richard & Gillian Gamm of Lowell, Jonathan & Loretta Gamm of Sparta, James & Merry Gamm of Rockford, and Robert & Julie Gamm of Midland, a step-son, Ethan Jr. & Debra Silverthorne of Greenville; two step-daughters, Gail & Steve Maag of Belding, and Wendy & Neil Winters of Sidney; twenty-six grandchildren; twenty-eight great grandchildren; siblings-in-law, Harry Silverthorne, Marjorie Ingersoll, Frances Merren, and Virginia & Bob Lincoln, all of Greenville; and several nieces and nephews. Visitation is Monday from 6-8 p.m. at the Christiansen Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 511 S. Franklin Street, Greenville, and on Tuesday from 10-11:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church, corner of S. Franklin and W. Cass Streets, Greenville, where funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. The Rev. Steve Charnley, pastor of the First United Methodist Church, will officiate and burial will take place privately at Rest Haven Memory Gardens, Belding. Envelopes for memorial contributions to the First United Methodist Church will be available at the funeral home and the church. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Virginia Silverthorne, please visit our flower store.