Virginia Taylor

Our beloved mother, Virginia “Ginger” (Ritchie) Taylor, 89, passed away peacefully at home in Johnson City, TN, surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and devoted rescue dogs. Raised in Venice, FL, Ginger numbered herself among the Venice “Old Timers” who enjoyed playing on the beach, watching the Ringling Bros. circus in their winter camp, cheering on the New York Yankees during spring training, and dancing with the cadets of the Kentucky Military Institute. She was an active member of the Rainbow Girls and the Methodist Youth Fellowship. She graduated valedictorian of her high school class and received the honor of participating in the Girls State legislative program in Tallahassee.

Ginger dedicated her life to serving others, first as the loving wife of U.S. Army Major Richard H. Taylor. After being stationed in Georgia, Indiana, New Mexico, Hawaii, and Germany, Maj. Taylor retired at Ft. Bliss in El Paso, TX, where Ginger became an integral member of the community. She served as president of the Retired Officers Wives Club and was an active member of the Women’s Auxiliary of the University of Texas at El Paso, the Woman’s Department of the El Paso Chamber of Commerce, the Junior League, Soroptimist International, and the Ladies Oriental Shrine of North America. Ginger was a powerful presence in her community of Horizon City, where she served as chair of the Planning & Zoning Commission and as the Republican Party Precinct Judge in the days when she admired the Republican Party.

A fascinating mix of traditional and modern, she was named Virginia, as were all the female firstborn children in the previous ten generations of her family, in honor of the colony that welcomed her French Huguenot ancestors in the 1500s. Ginger was an avid reader who closely followed current events, she was an astute observer of human nature, and she enjoyed a lively discussion of the issues and respectful disagreement. She was always impeccably dressed and was the life of any party she attended. One of her greatest pleasures was a day on the golf course followed by a lively party with the Nine Hole Golf Association. She called herself “the last of the good old broads,” and when her grandchildren dubbed her “The Ginge,” the name stuck. She believed strongly in the power of laughter, and her descendants are grateful to have inherited her wicked sense of humor!

She is preceded in death by her husband Rick Taylor, son Erik Taylor, and brother David Ritchie. She is survived by sisters Louise Ritchie and Muriel Guffey, brother John Ritchie, daughter Virginia Gabrielle “Gigi” Taylor, son Jeff Taylor, daughters-in-law Bess Sirmon-Taylor and Leslie Hare, grandchildren Art Nicholes, Izzy Taylor, Randy Taylor, Olivia Virginia Taylor and Gabrielle Michelle Taylor.

The family will host a celebration of life time, with visitation 5:00-6:30 pm on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at Morris-Baker Funeral Home. A memorial service will follow, with Senior Pastor Benjamin Lee of Hopwood Christian Church officiating. In honor of Ginger, the family requests that those attending wear bright colors. The service will be livestreamed and available to view on her obituary page.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family via www.morrisbaker.com.

Morris-Baker Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 2001 E. Oakland Ave., Johnson City, is serving the Taylor family. (423) 282-1521.