Virginia Ann (Wells) Jessup passed away peacefully after a short illness November 10, 2017. The daughter of Florence and Walter Wells, she was born in Willoughby, Ohio on March 8, 1931. Growing up, she worked alongside her father on their farm in Northeast Ohio and graduated from Eastlake North High School. After graduation, Virginia joined the United States Air Force in 1950 where she trained and tested in the top of her class in mechanics. However, because "mechanics wasn't a woman's job" she was placed in the secretarial pool, and served her country in Topeka, Kansas.

Virginia met and married Thomas J.P. Jessup while they both served in the USAF in Topeka. After their discharge from the USAF, they moved to Queens, New York for a short time before settling and raising their family in Geneva, Ohio.  Virginia loved her family dearly and her deepest desire was to be near them as they and their extended families grew.  She raised their seven children and enjoyed watching their many activities as they grew up. Tom and Virginia also spent a number of years in Amory, Mississippi while he finished his career with True Temper. After retirement, they returned to Saybrook, Ohio, where she enjoyed caring for her many grandchildren when they were young. Her hobbies included gardening, preserving vegetables, sewing for her family, taking in and caring for stray animals, and watching birds.

Virginia was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Florence, her beloved husband Tom, her youngest daughter, Darlene Jessup Reo, and her son-in-law Paul Reo.  Surviving is a sister, Midge and husband Lanny Bixel and a brother, Roger and wife Joan Wells, children; Christopher Jessup of Saybrook, Thomas Jessup and his wife Loretta of Chardon, Valerie Jessup McDowell and her husband Anthony of Ashtabula, Harvey Jessup and his wife Ann of Columbia, SC, Elizabeth Jessup Laughlin and her husband Tom of Saybrook, and Maureen Jessup Rankin and her husband Bill of Jefferson. She is also survived by 17 grandchildren; Douglas Jessup, Nicholas Jessup, Paul Jessup, Thom Jessup, Kimberly Wasylyk, Pamela Jessup, Victor Milano, Jaime Milano, Harvey Jessup, Hannah Jessup, Kathryn Lemmo, Steven Armstrong, Dan Rankin, Craig Rankin, Ben Rankin, Jessica Distelrath, and Alex Kaderly as well as 17 great grandchildren.

The family will have a Celebration Of Life gathering on Sunday, November 19th from 1-5 P.M.  at the Geneva Community Center located at 72 West Main Street, Geneva, Ohio. Refreshments and snacks will be offered. All who wish to pay their respects are welcome to join us anytime during those hours. Arrangements for her cremation are with Fleming & Billman Funeral Directors and Crematory, 49 W. Jefferson St., Jefferson, whom have been honored to serve the Virginia Jessup family.  Visit fleming-billman.com to view obituary, express condolences, send a flower or light a candle.

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