Virginia Marcus

Virginia L. Marcus, 71, of Freeville, died unexpectedly Sunday, November 4, 2007 at the Cayuga Medical Center. Born in Elmira, she was the daughter of the late Chester and Luella Lewis and the current wife of Stanley T. Marcus, who survives her.

After attending Ithaca High School, Virginia ("Ginny") married Lloyd R. "Ray" Bell, Jr., and she spent a number of years as a "stay-at-home mom" in order to raise her son, Tom, and her daughter, Bonita ("Bonnie"). During those years, Ginny and Ray were very involved with many activities and friends. They bowled in leagues, raced stock cars at Ithaca-Dryden Speedway on Ringwood Road (Ginny was a Powderpuff Champion), rode horses, snow-mobiled , and Ginny served as a 4-H leader.

In the late 1960's, Virginia began working at Cornell University and, eventually, she joined the Department of Chemistry, where she served as Course Coordinator of all of the Freshman Chemistry courses until 1998, when she retired.

In the late 1970's, Virginia and Lloyd Bell separated and their marriage came to an end. In 1982, Virginia married Stanley Marcus, who also worked in the Cornell Chemistry Department. Happily, Stan and Ray were friends, and, in fact, their friendship has grown over the years. From 1985 until the present, Ray and Virginia's son , Tom Bell, has lived with Stan and Ginny. In 2000, Stan, Tom and Ginny moved into a new home which Ginny had designed and which is located next door to Ray Bell's home. In October of this year, Stan and Virginia celebrated their 25th Anniversary. During her marriage to Stan, Ginny was heavily involved with family activities, such as pony racing and serving as Head Timer and Secretary of the Moravia Trotting and Pacing Association. She also loved gardening, working in the yard, caring for her cats and reading.

In addition to her husband, Stanley T. Marcus and her son, Thomas L. Bell, she is survived by her daughter, Bonita (Albert) Sautter, stepdaughter, Sharon Beltaine, granddaughters, Dinnett (Jeff) Moore, Sonya (Kristian) Garrow, and Corinne (Jason) Russell, and four great-grandchildren. In addition she is survived by two sisters, Gwendolyn (Richard) Moore of Dunnellon, Florida, and Beverly (Harry) Bortz of Lansing, N.Y. In addition to her parents, Virginia was predeceased by her brother, Russell Lewis.

A memorial service for family and friends will be held on Friday, November 9, at the Perkins Funeral Home in Dryden at 4:00 P.M., and it will be followed by a reception at the Marcus home at 1088 Yellow Barn Road in Freeville.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the S.P.C.A. at 1640 Hanshaw Road, Ithaca, N.Y. 14850