Virginia Carol Frye died Sept. 30, 2014 at Duke University Hospital of a rare and aggressive form of cancer.

Ginny, as she was known, was born in Hamilton, Ohio on Feb. 15, 1944. She graduated from Taft High School in Hamilton and from Miami University, Ohio in 1966 with a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Humanities Degree.

After graduation Ginny worked for the Columbus, Ohio Public Library System, and when appointed as head librarian of the Dublin, Ohio branch, she became the system’s youngest branch library head.

She moved to Vermont with her beloved husband, Michael Frye, in 1972 where they lived until retiring to Tryon in 2010.

There is a saying “happy is the person who has a grand passion in life”. Ginny’s was her horses. She trained and showed many Arabian horses to Class A Championships and Regional Top 5 placing’s. She showed her beloved Arabian gelding, Bal Amozan, to his International Arabian Horse Association Legion of Honor, a lifetime achievement award.

She also trained and showed National Show Horses. She won both a National Championship as well as national top 10 placing’s and regional championships.

Never one to be idle, Ginny co-founded the Vermont Arabian Horse Association shortly after moving to Vermont. Over the years, she served as president, secretary and also filled the position of editor of the VAHA newsletter.

She was also a director of the District II National Show Horse Registry, and both a director and secretary of the New England National Show Horse Association where she coordinated numerous programs including participation in Equine Affaire and the NSH classes at the shows in District II. For the National Show Horse Registry, she filled various positions including director, secretary, national club liaison, associate editor of the NSH magazine and advisor to the NSH Youth Clubs.

Ginny’s other major passion was supporting equal marriage equality for gays and lesbians. While in Vermont she did volunteer work for Vermont Freedom to Marry, which was instrumental in the passage of legislation in Vermont in 2009 giving marriage equality to all.

After moving to Tryon, Ginny owned Norwegian Fjord horses for pleasure and trail riding. She also found joy learning to handcraft jewelry. She took numerous classes at Tryon Arts & Crafts and became quite accomplished. Her work was sold at various local craft shows and shops. She cherished the friendships she made through her time at Tryon Arts & Crafts.

Ginny lived life with gusto. She had a contagious smile, a quick wit and both time and kindness for friends, old and new. She will be sorely missed. Ginny is survived by her husband of 47 years, B. Michael Frye, and her two Norwegian Fjord horses.

A celebration of her life will be held at Tryon Arts & Crafts School on Nov. 1, 2014 from 4 – 6 p.m.