Virginia Chute Petura

Published 12:24 pm Monday, August 29, 2016

Virginia Chute Petura died peacefully August 25, 2016 with family around her. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, she was born December 13, 1918, in Brooklyn, N.Y., the oldest daughter of Stanley James Chute and Elsa Anna Wichmann Chute.

Gina was a graduate of Ridgewood (N.J.) High School and Centenary College (1939) in Hackettstown, N.J. She married her beloved husband, Richard C. Petura, May 31, 1940, at West Side Presbyterian Church in Ridgewood. He was a graduate of Lafayette College (1938) in Easton, Pa.

Gina and Dick had two sons and a daughter. They lived in Syracuse and Skaneateles, N.Y., and New Canaan, Conn. during Dick’s career in power systems engineering with Babcock and Wilcox and Malcolm Pirnie.

They retired in 1979 to the Red Fox community near Tryon, N.C. They were avid golfers, pursued gemming, jewelry making, and travel across North America and abroad. Gina enjoyed flowers and gardening, needlework, and collecting Wedgwood. She was a long-time member of Jackson Grove United Methodist Church, Red Fox Country Club, and Foxy Ladies. She was very fond of her family pets, especially Norwegian Elkhounds, Naade and Vixen.

She was predeceased by her husband (1999); her daughter NJ Webel (Daniel)(2012) in Ohio; and her sister Nancy Chute Harang (Richard)(2004) in Florida.

She is survived by sons Richard C. Petura Jr. (Barbara) of Pullman, Wash., and John C. Petura (Susan) of Palmyra, N.Y., a grandson, three granddaughters, and five great-grandchildren.

She lived at home until shortly before her death based on the devoted care and love of a dedicated team of caregivers, for which she was very grateful.

Memorial services will be announced later.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Jackson Grove United Methodist Church in Landrum, S.C., Elizabeth House in Flat Rock, N.C., or a charity of your choice.

– Submitted by Barbara Petura