Virginia Poole Bauer, Ginny lived for more than a century, passing away on February 18, 2024, at the age of 102.  She was predeceased, seven years earlier by her husband, Robert John Bauer, age 97.  They were married for 74 years.

She was a popular member of the Meadow Ridge community for over a decade, enjoying bridge and many of the trips and activities available to residents.

Ginny and Bob had a lifelong passion for the game of the bridge and for building bridges between people, families and communities.  Living for more than a century and experiencing huge changes, they thrived and shared their abundance with all who crossed their path.  They both live on in the memories of their loved ones and the many lives they touched.

Virginia leaves behind three children, four grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.  All but the last grandchild got to share in her great unconditional love.  Her great grandchildren provided a special joy to her in the final years, which were spent in Meadow Ridge of Redding, Connecticut.

Her children and their spouses were George and Barbara Bauer, Nancy and Len Howell, and Rick and Bert Bauer.  Barbara predeceased her in 2023.  She has four grandchildren and two spouses: Jessica Howell and Karl Schmitz, Kim Howell, Dustin Howell and Alex Frizzell, and Andrew Whitehill.  There are also three great grandchildren: Maddie and Juliana Schmitz and Thalia Howell.

Virginia was born in 1921 in Westfield NJ, the first child of Raymond and Bertha Poole.  Four years later, a younger brother followed, also named Raymond Poole.

She grew up in upstate New York, a good and popular student.  She skipped two semesters and earned a scholarship to Cornell, fulfilling her father's ambition for her.  There she met the irrepressible Bob Bauer, who set his sights on marrying her.  He was two years ahead, graduated and started a career while she finished college.  World War II intervened, and they were wed on Christmas Day of 1942, the only day that he could get leave from the Army.  They spent their first years touring the United States to bases where he would learn the airplanes he would have to service and she would pick up teaching assignments.

Her first child, George was born in 1945 while Robert was still overseas and Virginia was living with her parents.  He would soon return and they set up their household in New Jersey, close to where his family lived.  Robert would take over a small electrical contracting business, Electrical Installations, Inc. and grow it into one of the industry leaders in one of the great industrial states of the post war era.

Nancy was born in 1950 and Rick completed the family in 1955.

Virginia lived through many national crises.  Before she was born, her father and many, many uncles served in World War I.  The Great Depression impacted her childhood with financial insecurity in her family for a while.  She saw her brother and husband ship off for World War II.

A memorial will be held in her honor at Meadow Ridge on July 13th, from Noon to 3 PM.