Virginia "Ginny" Bell DeRose

Virginia Bell DeRose Virginia "Ginny" DeRose of Satellite Beach, Florida passed away July 24, 2013. Ginny was born on November 11, 1917, in Moorhead, Minnesota to the late Memfred and Ann Nelson. She met her husband of 43 years, Roy DeRose, while attending North Dakota State College in Fargo, North Dakota, where she majored in Home Economics. They were married after graduation in 1941. During World War II Virginia went home to do volunteer work when Roy served in the Army-Air Corps. Following WW II, they lived in Washington, DC and then Nebraska. After the Korean War, Virginia began the life of an Air Force Officer's wife living overseas in Japan, Hawaii, and Paris, France, with tours also in the Washington, DC area where they lived in Fairfax and Falls Church, Virginia. She loved all the places they lived, and enjoyed seeing the world and learning the different cultures, including Japanese and French cooking. For every military assignment she created a wonderful home for her family, which included two kids, Lori and Larry, and she got involved with community activities. After leaving their military life and their kids went off to college, they spent three years in North Carolina, before moving to Melbourne [Satellite Beach], Florida, in 1976 loving the fact that they were only minutes away from Patrick Air Force Base. For 7 years Roy and Virginia enjoyed their new Florida home and golfed, bought a boat, and made many new friends, affectionately naming them their "Florida Family". In 1983 Roy passed away after a courageous battle with cancer, and Virginia decided to stay in their home and remained close to her Florida family members many of whom she out lived. She was active in the base chapel, played bridge every week, golfed into her 90's, read at least 80 books a year, and continued to drive at night becoming the designated driver to the lunch and dinner sites she shared with friends -- including weekly Burger King and Wendy's visits! Virginia always said, she was a lucky lady to have kids and friends and the life she has had. She was positive and grateful for every day she lived. Virginia was preceded in death by her husband, Roy DeRose. She is survived by her two kids, Lori DeRose of Annapolis, Maryland, and Larry DeRose of Melbourne, Florida. A viewing of Virginia will be held at on Friday, August 2, 2013 at Beach Funeral Home, Indian Harbour Beach, from 10:00 to 11:00 am, with services to begin at 11:00. Virginia will be joining her beloved husband and be buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia outside of Washington, DC.