COLUMBUS
Virginia Alberta Kendall, 97, passed away at 5:55 a.m. Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at Four Seasons Health Center.
Ginny was born on October 7, 1926 in Bloomington, Indiana to Horten and Dorothy Kendall.
Growing up poor on a small farm in the Columbus area, Ginny attended a one-room country school house called Wagner School. Ginny was a 1944 graduate of Columbus High School.
Ginny was independent, caring, generous, and a loving person all of her life. A hard-working young lady working at Camp Atterbury during World War II, she met a young doctor named John G. Bellows and his wife, Mary. She was offered a job in Chicago in his new practice when he returned to Chicago. She grabbed at the chance to go to the big city and start her new life… and did it for over 30 years as a dedicated employee and an “Other Mother” to the doctor’s family of 5 children. She was secretary, administrator, his right arm, she did it all! She loved it and blossomed in her roles. Dr. Bellows went on to become a world renowned ophthalmologist, inventor, professor, author, founder of a medical society, and more… and she grew in his practice. Her extended family from this period has always been very special to her.
Returning to Columbus, Indiana after 30 plus years in Chicago to care for her aging parents, she found herself in her new condo in Northfield addition and lived there for 30 years before moving to Four Seasons Residential Center in February 2019 and then to the Health Center in June 2021.
Always a doer and on the go, she was very social and involved in helping others. She has been a volunteer for the Columbus Philharmonic and the Columbus Regional Hospital Info/Help Desk. She was a member of Eastern Star – Columbus 339, a member the Red Hat Society, and a former member of Sandy Hook Methodist Church.
She also traveled the world with relatives and friends, visiting 62 countries and saw the Seven Wonders of the World… what an accomplishment!
Ginny was preceded in death by her parents, Horton and Dorothy Kendall, her brother, Robert Kendall, her sisters, Evelyn Coles and Betty Williams, nephews, Ricki Williams, Jim Nay, great niece, Kelly Fox. Also included is her extended Bellows family members of Dr. John Bellows and his wife Mary, and daughter, Debbie.
Survivors include her nieces, Linda Nay, Janet (James) Williams, Marie Fox, and nephews, Jerry (Melanie) Coles, Jim (Barbara) Coles, Jon (Lora) Coles, Larry Williams, Tim (Vena) Williams; Grandnieces Alison Vandergriff, Meghan Schmicker, Katy Sorrells, Mackenzie Hack, Delaney Davidson, and Darby Coles; Grandnephews Chad Nay, Matt Coles, Jamey Coles, Brian Coles, and Ben Clerkin. Also included is her extended Bellows family members of Dr. Randall Bellows, Dr. David Bellows, Sandra, and Diane.
Special THANKS to the wonderful nurses and caregivers at Four Seasons Residential Center and Health Center in caring for Ginny as her health declined.
Per Ginny’s request, she will be cremated and there will be no funeral service. She will be laid to rest by her parent’s gravesite at Garland Brook Cemetery in a private ceremony of family at a later date.
In lieu of flowers or memorial contributions, go and be like Ginny. Pay it forward when you can. Treat someone to dinner, give the gift of education or travel with and to see those you love.
Arrangements were entrusted to Jewell-Rittman Family Funeral Home.
