Virginia M. Gillespie-Beam, 90, formerly of Brackenridge, passed away Tuesday, March 6, 2018, at Portage University Hospital, Ravenna, Ohio. She was born March 2, 1928, in Brackenridge, to the late William M. and Laura A. (Swartzlander) Gohn Sr. Virginia was a homemaker and also worked as a cook at the Anchor Inn, Natrona Heights and WT Grant, Lower Burrell, and was a cashier for K-Mart, New Kensington and Ginny's Thrift Store, Natrona. She was a member of Mission Chapel, First Pentecostal Church, Brackenridge. Virginia enjoyed going to estate sales, antiques and collecting toy bears. Survivors include her children, Donna (Gillespie) Palmer, of Natrona Heights, and Robert W. (Joni) Gillespie, of Jamestown, Ohio; stepchildren, Bella Rose Beam Van Ryan, of Tarentum, Pamela (James) Beam Jones, of Leechburg, Edward A. (Becky) Beam, of Freeport, Robert (Janet) Beam and Cynthia J. Beam, both of Decatur, Ill.; grandchildren, Robert A., Casey, Madison Gillespie, John A. Gillespie Jr. and Mark A. Kunkle Jr.; and five great-grandchildren. Also surviving are her siblings, Arlene Gohn Hoak, of Ravenna, Ohio, and James A. (Linda) Gohn, of Manorville; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Robert F. Gillespie; second husband, Edward Beam; daughter, Mary Louise Gillespie Kunkle DiFrancia; and brothers, William M. "Shorty," Leroy David and Robert J. Gohn.

Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until the time of service at 1 p.m. Saturday in the DUSTER FUNERAL HOME INC., 347 E. 10th Ave., Tarentum, 724-224-1526, with the Rev. John W. Phillips officiating. Burial will be in Sarverville Cemetery, Buffalo Township. Visit dusterfh.com.

(Published in The Valley News Dispatch on Mar. 9, 2018)