Published in the April 22, 2016 edition
WOBURN — Virginia E. “Ginnie” Bryant, 92, a longtime resident of Melrose, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 16, at the Woburn Nursing Center.
Ginnie was born in Lynn on Jan. 29, 1924, one of three children of the late LeRoy H. and Elizabeth (Haskell) Wood. She was raised in Melrose where she graduated from Melrose High School, Class of 1942.
She received her associate’s degree from LaSalle College in Maine where she studied Nutrition and Dietetics before returning to Melrose. She lived in Melrose most of her life and worked as a crossing guard at the corner of Franklin and Vinton streets for 40 years.
Ginnie was independent, strong, generous with her time and caring. She was a dedicated city employee for many years as a crossing guard. Ginnie diligently saw that generations of students crossed Franklin Street safely on the way to school. She took her job seriously, always reporting for duty no matter the weather. She attributed her long life to her years working in the outdoors keeping her healthy.
She had simple needs in life. She enjoyed nights out bowling at the Wakefield Bowladrome, trips to Soc’s for ice cream and summers on Sebago Lake in Maine. Ginnie made many Melrose High School reunions over the years and kept in contact with her classmates, neighbors and longtime friends.
A lifelong Melrosian, Ginnie stayed active in the community through her support of the Kappa Swap Shop, and as a volunteer at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital. She was also a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church where she was a member of the Circle.
She will be remembered for her strength and for her love of sweets, especially her famous peanut butter pie.
Ginnie was the loving mother of David H. Bryant and his wife Cathy of Woburn. She was the devoted sister of the late Bernice Wood and LeRoy H. Wood Jr. She was the caring grandmother of Timothy F. Bryant and Cassandra M. Bryant, both of Reading.
Relatives and friends will gather in honor of Ginnie’s life during visiting hours at the Robinson Funeral Home, 809 Main St., Melrose on Monday, April 25 from 4-8 p.m., and at the First United Methodist Church, 645 Main St., Melrose for her funeral service celebrated on Tuesday at 9 a.m. Interment in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park, Peabody.
Contributions in Ginnie’s memory may be made to Cops for Kids with Cancer, PO Box 850956, Braintree MA 02185.
For directions or online tribute visit RobinsonFuneralHome.com.
