Funeral services for Mrs. Virginia WardBartow, of Brookhaven, are 3 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 3, at RiverwoodFamily Funeral Service, with burial at Riverwood Memorial Park.

    Visitation is Friday from 1 until 3 p.m. at the funeral home.

    Virginia Ward Bartow, 89, died peacefully at her home on Jan. 31,2012, as the result of complications from a series of strokes. Bornin Greenfield, Tenn., the daughter of William and Martha “Mattie”Ward, she was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husbandof 65 years, Darwin “Pat” Bartow, her siblings, Eupha Hayes, RubyeRay, Harry Ward, Tommy Ward and Mable Rainey.

    She met Pat in Memphis during World War II, where she was asecretary for Firestone and he was serving in the Army Air Corps,stationed in Dyersburg, Tenn. After a whirlwind romance, they weremarried on her 22nd birthday, Sept. 7, 1944.

    A lifelong Methodist, she was a member of First United MethodistChurch in Brookhaven in her later years.

    She is survived by her daughters, Darlene Powell and husband,Clayton, of Brookhaven, Pamela Moye and husband, Andy, of Columbus,Ga., and Beverly Bartow and husband, Jim Stengel, of New York; herfour grandchildren, Christopher Powell and wife, Anna, Sean Powelland wife, Brandi, all of Brookhaven, Ryan Powell and wife, Anna, ofPetal, and Sarah Stengel, of New York; her sevengreat-grandchildren, Jordan Powell Buie and husband, John, KylePowell, Stone Spann, Jackson Green, Riley Powell, Payton Powell andJalen Powell; and her great-great-granddaughter, Rosalyn Buie.

    The family is deeply grateful for the loving care provided by CleoBenson, Leslie Ceazer, Dorothy Edwards, Maggie Hudson, VeronicaLawson, Michelle O’Quinn and Annette Wade.

    In lieu of flowers, she asked that contributions be made in hername to Brookhaven Animal Rescue League or the animal rescuecharity of your choice.

    To express your thoughts to the family, you may visitriverwoodfamily.com and click on her name to leave a comment.