Virginia Thompson Mckinley

Virginia Thompson McKinley died of natural causes Monday, May 6, 2013.

Virginia was born July 16, 1924 in Decatur, Georgia to Alexander and Lillie Mae Thompson. The Thompsons soon moved to Cairo, Georgia where Virginia grew up and graduated Salutatorian from Cairo High School. Virginia worked her way through college, attending the Florida State College for Women (now "FSU"), where she obtained a degree in Music.

Virginia was a born teacher with a strong commitment to public service. After college, she taught music in Tampa, where she met and in 1950 married Mac McKinley. The growing McKinley family lived in London and Maryland while Mac served in the Navy, before returning to Florida and settling in Hillcrest Heights.

While raising three sons, Virginia remained an active leader in community service. She believed education could lead to a better life for everyone. Virginia participated in and often chaired school organizations and committees, taught music, and procured grants for programs at Babson Park (now Dale Fair) Elementary School. She belonged to the League of Women Voters, local Family YMCA, and the Regional Planning County Advisory Committee.

Virginia was a conservationist. She was a member of various conservation groups including the Ridge Audubon Society, Sierra Club, the Polk County Coalition for the Environment, and the Nature Conservancy. On her porch, she hosted initial meetings of the Environmental Lands Program in Polk County. She was the first Chair of CLASAC.

The Outdoor Classroom Project, including the Scrub Plum Nature Trail at Dale Fair Elementary School, was one of Virginia's favorite projects. With friends, neighbors, the school, the environmental community, and the Babson Park Community Church (which dedicated the Scrub Plum site), Virginia raised awareness of important Florida natural habitat while supporting local education. Decades later, students roam the Chapman Oak Trail, The Firehouse Trail, and the Scrub Plum Trail, experiencing Virginia's idea of "Outdoor Classrooms," where they explore their local environment and can combine the study of art, writing, social studies, science and math. In 2010, the Green Horizon Land Trust awarded Virginia its Blazing Star Award for her life work in conservation.

Virginia loved music and sang throughout her life. She enjoyed close friendships, too many to list. She loved her family, children, and grandchildren and was a wonderful mother, sister, wife, and grandmother. She is survived by sons, Jim, Richard, and Bill McKinley; brother, Kenneth Thompson; sister, Ellen McNeill; grandchildren, Donpaul, Sara, Jesse, Sam, Logan, and Hannah.

Memorial Services will be held at the Babson Park Community Church at 3 p.m., Saturday, May 25.

Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Green Horizon Land Trust, 225 East Stuart Avenue, Lake Wales, Florida 33853 or Ridge Audubon Society, P.O. Box 148, Babson Park, Florida 33827.