Virginia G. Hengst

Virginia G. “Ginny “ Hengst, age 84, of Greencastle, PA, left this life for her eternal home on Saturday, July 16, 2022. Born January 31, 1938, in Gettysburg, PA, she was the daughter of the late Grant and Melva Jacobs Hengst.

Virginia was known to her nieces and nephews as “Ninny” and to her close friends as “Ginny” or Virginia. She was a graduate of Penn State University. After graduation, Ginny began her career teaching; she taught general science, health and physical education in several school systems throughout her 27 year career, retiring form the Pangborn Elementary School in Hagerstown, MD.  In retirement, Virginia took care of nieces and nephews and nurtured a lifetime devotion to what she called her “Furry friends”. She enrolled some of her dogs in therapy programs and spent many years serving children with special needs and the elderly in nursing homes with her dogs, Domino and Cooper. She took special delight in: All things bright and beautiful, All creatures great and small, All things wise and wonderful and believed The Lord God made them all. Virginia answered the call of Jesus Christ as a young adult and was baptized. She was a faithful member of the Five Forks BIC Church and spent her life in loving service to her church, family, and community.

Left to mourn her passing is her sister, Suzanne Hess; 8 nieces and nephews, Heidi Mohler (husband Larry), Peter Hess (wife Sharilyn), Holly Long (husband David), HopeAnne Long (husband Aaron, Patrick Hess, Wendell Hess (wife Marie), Russell Hess, and Hillary Benedict (husband Wade); 46 great nieces and nephews; 21 great-great nieces and nephew; and her close friend and sister-in-Christ, Dotti Zimmerman. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother-in-law, Douglas Hess, a niece, Heather Long, a great nephew, Clay Long (son of David and Holly), and a great niece, Hannah Long (daughter of Aaron and Heather Long).

In the last year of life, Virginia repeatedly expressed a desire to go home. Saturday Evening, as her family surrounded her, the Lord suddenly answered her prayer and took her to her eternal home. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 23, 2022, at 10:30 AM at Five Forks BIC Church, 9244 Five Forks Rd., Waynesboro, PA 17268, where Pastor Shaun Kipe will officiate. The family will receive friends on Friday, July 22, 2022, from 4-8 PM and one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the above church and address. Interment will follow the service in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Greencastle, PA. Arrangements are entrusted to the Harold M. Zimmerman and Son Funeral Home, Inc., Greencastle, PA. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her name to the above church and address.