Virginia ''Ginny'' Cruit

MARY VIRGINIA COOPER CRUIT, of Bel Air, formerly of Aberdeen, died at Mariner Health of Bel Air on July 25, 2005. She was 87.

Born in Aldino, Maryland, she was the first child of the late Nelson and Myrtle Cooper, who operated the general store there for many years. Virginia was baptized in and formerly a member of Hopewell United Methodist Church.

A graduate of Western Maryland College, she began teaching physical education in Oakland, where she met her future husband, the late Dr. Edwin D. Cruit. Soon after their marriage, they moved to Washington D.C. during Edwin’s four years of military service. Following that, they settled in Aberdeen, where Dr. Cruit opened an office for his dental practice. Well-known as “Ginny and Doc”, they lived and worked in Aberdeen during the rest of their lives together. Having taught in several of its public schools, Ginny was best known as the first physical education teacher at Bakersfield Elementary School, where she remained for about a dozen years.
To their credit “Ginny and Doc” vacationed with their entire family every year at Lake Rescue in Ludlow, Vermont, a tradition that continues to this day with all the children, spouses and grandchildren vacationing together.

Following Dr. Cruit’s death, Virginia became active in local square dance groups, worked part-time in her son-in-law’s floral shop, and was chair of the Altar Guild at Grace United Methodist Church where she was an active member most of her adult life.
As Virginia’s health became more fragile, she moved to Bel Air with her daughter, Catherine Cruit Becker. Cathie along with her late husband, Al Becker, gave Ginny much love, care, and happiness during her final years.

Virginia Cruit is survived by three children, Catherine Cruit Becker of Bel Air, Edwin Nelson “Butch” Cruit and his wife, Pam, along with their two children, Jessica and Swain all of Ormond Beach, Florida; Charles Reed Cruit and his wife, Mary of Virginia Beach, Virginia
along with their three children, Nicholas Cruit , also of Virginia Beach, Molly Cruit, and Julie Angilly, Julie’s husband, Gregory Angilly and great-grandchild, Cooper John Angilly all of San Francisco, California. She is also survived by her sister, Verna Cooper Preston of Aberdeen; a nephew, Brian Preston of Rochester, New York; a niece, Marilyn Bobby of Bel Air; a cousin, Gladys Hutcheson of Wisconsin; and by her dear friends, Sylvia Hall of Bel Air and Katherine Reed of Aberdeen.

Those who desire may contribute to Arthritis Foundation Maryland Chapter, 9505 Reisterstown Road, Suite 1 North, Owings Mills, Maryland 21117.