Virginia “Ginny” Lou  Shrum, 97, of Jackson, passed away Sunday, March 9, 2025, at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. 

She was born May 22, 1927, in Lixville, Missouri, to John and Mary E. (Statler) Fellows.  The family subsequently moved to St.Louis, where she attended elementary school, and was a 1945 graduate of Blewett High School in St. Louis.  After graduation, she began working at the Artiphone Co.   As a teenager, she enjoyed going to Forest Park Highlands Amusement Park, Cardinals games, roller skating and attending dances in the St. Louis area. 

Ginny married Charles Dykes Shrum on February 28, 1948.  The ceremony took place at Whitewater Presbyterian Church, in Lixville.  She first met Charlie at a church picnic when they were small children.  As an older child she would spend her summers in Lixville with her grandparents, Daniel and Belle Statler and Thomas and Ida Fellows.  She loved going to the country to visit them and other relatives and friends in Southeast Missouri.  She began dating Charlie during High School.  He served in the USN, Pacific Theatre, from 1945-1946 and then in the USNR. They stayed in touch while he was serving his country.  Upon his discharge, they reunited and marriage soon followed. They began a family in 1954 with the birth of their daughter, Deborah. Later, in 1960 their son Kevin was born. To help support the family, Ginny worked several years in the offices of Ralston Purina in the 1960’s. She and Charlie were great parents and  provided well for their children. 

Ginny was a loyal and faithful wife and mother who enjoyed caring for her husband and family. Her hobbies included Cardinals baseball, word find puzzles, league bowling, baking, and growing various plants and flowers.  While living in Arkansas, she was a member of a women’s group that traveled to many cities and historic sites in the Mid South region. Wherever she was, people loved her conversation, humor and quick wit.  She always had a kind word to share.  She donated to many charities as she always wanted to help others.  She was a beautiful woman inside and out, taking pride in her family, friendships, appearance, and work.  She will forever be loved and greatly missed by all that knew her.  

Ginny and Charlie had been married for over 60 years when Charlie passed away in September 2008, while residing in Blytheville, Arkansas.  In March  2011, Ginny moved to Jackson, residing 12 years at Jackson Senior Garden Apartments, where she made many friends and was loved by each of them.  Since 2023, she lived happily with her son in Maryland Heights, Missouri.

Loving survivors include two children, Kevin D. Shrum of Maryland Heights, MO (formerly Dallas, Texas), and Deborah S. Cartwright of St. Charles, Missouri; grandchildren, Brian C. Hawkins of Omaha Nebraska, Donald Cartwright and Matthew Cartwright, both of St. Louis;  great-grandchildren, Leo, Isabela, and Sofia Cartwright; a brother, E. J. “Bud” (late Maxine) Fellows of Jackson;  a nephew, Steve M. Fellows of Fruitland, Missouri; and two nieces, Terri A. (Fellows) Penrod and Connie J. (Fellows) Schlimme, both of Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

She was preceded in death by her husband and parents.

Visitation is from 11:30 a.m. to service time, Monday, March 17, 2025, at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson.  The Rev. Sam Roethemeyer will conduct the funeral service at 1 p.m., Monday, at the funeral home.  Interment will follow at Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the donor’s choice of church or charity.

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