Virgina Mize

Mrs. Virginia Ward Mize, age 83, died Thursday, September 04, 2014. Mrs. Mize was born in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, to Commander Ernest Ward, U.S.N. flight surgeon, and his wife, Mary Collie Ward. Although she lived in Hawaii for only 2 months, Mrs. Mize was very proud of her "island heritage." She frequently referred to herself as a native-born Hawaiian. Mrs. Mize was a typical Navy child who moved all over the country and attended twelve schools before she graduated from Statesville High School in 1948. She graduated from Mitchell College in 1950 and attended Winthrop College for one year. She married Richard Leon Mize in 1951, a marriage which lasted 53 years until his death in 2005. Dick and Virginia had three sons, all surviving: Richard Andrew Mize of Hollywood, CA, David Kirk Mize and wife, Catherine, of Statesville, and Robert Ernest Mize and wife, Elizabeth, of Burlington, NC. Also surviving are grandchildren: Samuel Wellington Mize, of Seattle, Washington, Charles Robert Mize, and Lily Marie Mize, students at Appalachian State. Mrs. Mize was a medical records transcriptionist at both Iredell Memorial Hospital and at Davis Hospital. After her hospital work, Mrs. Mize went back to school and earned her Bachelor's Degree in English from Stephens College, MO. Mrs. Mize was an avid reader and lover of classical music all her life. She was a volunteer with Hospice for some time. A donation to the Gordon Hospice House would be an excellent way to remember her. There will be no formal services held but visitation with the family will be at Nicholson Funeral Home Monday evening, September 8, 2014, from 6:30 until 8:00 p.m. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.nicholsonfunerals.com and Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the family.