Virginia Meister

Virginia Elaine Meister, 103, of Pickerington, Ohio, went home to be with the Lord on January 3, 2026. Virginia was born on October 27, 1922, in Amanda, Ohio, to the late Samuel and Mayme (Roberts) Meister. She was a "perfect lady" of the Greatest Generation. A foul word rarely touched her lips, and she always took the time to have her hair, makeup, and nails in impeccable shape to do anything: even just to visit the grocery store. She was a kind and generous woman, but also the first person to go to bat for her interests.

Virginia was fiercely independent and strong of will, and there is no doubt that she was an incredibly hard worker. After graduating from Amanda-Clearcreek High School in 1940, she worked a series of jobs until she found her way to the Ohio Bell Telephone Company, where she worked as a switchboard operator until her retirement. She was the Farm Administrator of Meister Farms in Amanda, Ohio, for a number of years, and she raised her dear son, Eric, by herself after her divorce.

With over 100 years of life to live, Virginia did more than just work, however. She was a clog dancer for many years, and as she aged she switched to square dancing in its place. She traveled all over the world with her special friend group of other ladies. Her travels took her across Europe, where she watched the Oberammergau Passion Play in Bavaria, Germany, several times. She also found herself in Africa on a safari that included a hot air balloon ride over Victoria Falls, and in South America where she spent a night sleeping on a dock in one of the tributaries of the mighty Amazon River. Her final great adventure was a boat tour down the Mississippi River with her dear friend, Jenny Berry.

Even in her later years, Virginia continued to be full of life. While she set aside her grand travels for a more settled existence, there were few dull moments. Virginia loved games, and her favorites included euchre, bridge, chess, mahjong, and backgammon, just to name a few. She diligently engaged in picture and word puzzles until the end, insisting that such games would keep her sharp. Indeed, she was sharper than most to the last. Virginia found joy in the small things, maintaining strong connections with those closest to her and a positive inner spirit. She was an inspirational force of nature and will be sorely missed by the many people who knew her.

Virginia was preceded in death by her beloved son, Joel Eric Meister; her parents, Samuel and Mayme Meister; her sister, Marjorie (Meister) Creviston; her brothers, Robert "Bob" Meister and Frank Meister, and another sibling; her niece, Susan (Creviston) Hutton; and her dear friend, Jenny Berry. She is survived by her niece, Sally Creviston, among other nieces and nephews; her family friends, Greg and Janette Meier; her dear friend, Charlene Troutman; and her caregiver, Lori Marthaller.

Visitation for family and friends will be held from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at Taylor-Theller Funeral Home in Amanda, Ohio. Burial will take place at Amanda Township Cemetery on Friday, January 9, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Virginia Meister Charitable Trust dated June 3, 2011, for the benefit of graduates of Amanda-Clearcreek High School.