Iola native Virginia L. Pettit King passed away peacefully on the morning of Sept. 4, 2017, following a noble battle with cancer over the past four years. Virginia was surrounded by family hours before her passing and her husband, John King of Idaho Falls, Idaho, was by her side when she passed at 3:25 a.m.
Virginia is survived by her husband, John, sons Rick Collins (Gail) and Craig Hole (Joanne) of Utah, 14 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. She moved from Iola to Idaho Falls in 2001 after living in Iola while caring for her mother, Opal Pearman Pettit, before Opal’s passing in 2000. She also was preceded in death by her father, George Willis Pettit of Iola, and brother, Willis Pettit, of Kansas City, Mo. While living in Iola and caring for her mother, Virginia was active in community affairs and for a time served as the executive director of the Iola Area Chamber of Commerce.
In her early years, Virginia grew up on her parents’ farm in Allen County. She attended school at the one-room Salem Schoolhouse about two miles from the farm. In seventh grade, Virginia’s family moved into the Iola city limits and she flourished in her years at Iola schools. In high school, Virginia was a cheerleader, prom queen, homecoming queen and good student. She graduated in 1950 and then moved with her family to Wichita in 1951. Virginia worked at Boeing Aircraft for 23 years while raising her sons with her husband of 32 years, Arnold L. “Sam” Hole, formerly of Kincaid. She and Sam lived briefly in Bella Vista, Ark., before Virginia returned to Iola in the 1990s to care for her mother.
Following her marriage to John King in 2005, she served by his side in many capacities for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). While living in Iola, Virginia also served in various capacities in the local LDS congregation.
A visitation will be from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Saturday at Lindquist Mortuaries and Cemeteries in Layton, Utah. A family memorial service will follow at 1 p.m. at the LDS chapel where she attended church in Idaho Falls, at 1660 E. 12th St.
Flowers and cards for Saturday’s service may be sent to Lindquist Mortuary, 1867 N. Fairfield Rd, Layton, UT 84041 and memories and reflections may be placed on Lindquist’s website under Virginia’s obituary at www.lindquistmortuary.com/listings.
Flowers and cards for Monday’s service can be sent to John King at 1721 E. 16th, Idaho Falls, ID, 83404.
Virginia Pettit King
