Virginia M. Zion

Virginia Marie Zion, 93, of Lake Bluff, Illinois passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 11, 2025 surrounded by family. Ginny was born on October 13, 1931 to Marie and Raymond Weatherby in Seattle, Washington. She grew up in the beautiful town of Longview, Washington. Ginny attended Stanford University where she met and married her devoted husband Conrad in 1955. While at Stanford, Ginny and Conrad made lifelong friends that they would travel the world with later in life. Upon graduation Ginny and Conrad moved to Alexandria, Virginia where Conrad served in the United States Army and Ginny taught elementary school. From there they moved to Bellevue, Washington and then eventually moved to St. Louis, Missouri where they raised their children for many years. They built an amazing group of friends and Ginny was an active volunteer in the community that she loved. Conrad and Ginny moved to Lake Bluff, Illinois in 1979 where they became members of the Church of the Holy Spirit. Ginny loved being a part of the congregation and became involved in many aspects of the church. Ginny developed a fascination for Native American culture as a young girl. It continued with her involvement for more than 20 years in the Church of the Holy Spirit mission trips to Wind River Indian Reservation every summer. Her entire family traveled to Wyoming for her and Conrad's 50th wedding anniversary and they renewed their vows at a chapel on the Indian Reservation. Ginny was a lifelong learner and she was passionate about education. She was active in her P.E.O. Group which helped advance women and the world through education. She was also active in the Lake Bluff Women's Group and she enjoyed and took an active role in her Investment Group. Travel was always a large part of Ginny and Conrad's life. They took their first trip, a delayed honeymoon, to the Orient in 1959, returning to China to celebrate their 40th anniversary in 1995. They also visited Vietnam, Cambodia, Egypt, South Africa, Japan, Thailand, New Zealand, Australia and traveled all throughout Europe. They also loved spending time traveling with their family. They would take Airstream trips out west to the Grand Canyon, they traveled annually to Fort DeSoto Florida and Hilton Head Island. They continued to share their love of travel with their grandchildren with trips to Jackson Hole, Wyoming and time spent in their second home in Tucson, Arizona. They also loved visiting their children in their homes in New York, San Antonio, TX and Knoxville, TN. Beloved wife to the late Conrad Zion for over 68 years; cherished mother of Derek Zion, Peter (Phronsie) Kelly-Zion and Brett (Angela) Zion and loving grandmother of Christopher (Tori), Clara and Seraphina. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, January 25, 2025 at the Church of the Holy Spirit, 400 E. Westminster in Lake Forest, Illinois. For information contact Reuland & Turnbough Funeral Directors of Lake Forest at (847) 234-9649 or at www.RTfunerals.com In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Ginny's name may be made to The Church of the Holy Spirit in Lake Forest at https://www.chslf.org/ or to the Alzheimer’s Association at https://alzfdn.org/.

Virginia M. Zion

October 13, 1931 - January 11, 2025