Virginia Ruth Dougherty

Virginia was a sixth-generation Houstonian, born on Feb. 5, 1931. (Her mother’s side of the family descended from the Old Three Hundred, the original 300 Anglo families brought by Stephen F. Austin to settle in Texas.)

After graduating from Lamar High School in Houston, Virginia Ruth Bryan left home to attend Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. She had not been there long before meeting the man with whom she would spend the next 70 years.

Virginia met Jack Ben Dougherty, a WWII veteran, on a double date. The two were married in 1950 at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Houston.

In the years that followed, Virginia lived the itinerant life of an Air Force officer’s wife, assigned to exotic locations like Spain and Bermuda, and less exotic spots like Burns Flat, Oklahoma. During these years, Virginia raised three sons and completed her undergraduate degree.

After retiring from the Air Force, the family returned to Houston, where Virginia completed a master’s degree at the University of Houston and began a 25-year career as a second-grade teacher at Frostwood Elementary School in Spring Branch. She was a gifted teacher to hundreds of children, loved by everyone from janitors to principals, fellow teachers, parents and students, some of whom stayed in touch with her until the end of her life.

Virginia was an incredible cook and devoted mother who provided a gentle, sensitive influence in a house full of males. She never raised her voice or said an unkind word.

She had a great sense of humor and a surprising competitive streak. She loved to play tennis and was an expert bridge player.

After her retirement, Virginia and Jack moved to Sun City in Georgetown, not far from where they first met. Their new home was close to the family’s cattle ranch in Bertram, where Jack and Virginia enjoyed spending much of their time.

Through 70 years, their romance never dimmed and their love for one another always obvious. With Virginia by his side, Jack died in 2021, at 97.

Soon after Jack’s passing, Virginia returned to Houston, where she spent the remainder of her life enjoying three generations of her growing family.

She will be remembered and missed by all who knew her.

She is survived by her sister, LynnDee Munson Keels; sons Pat and his wife KJ, Mike and his wife Kathy, and Doug and his wife Maureen; along with seven grandchildren: Matt, Jim, Joe, Kayla, Connor, Ben and Katie; and five great grandchildren: Campbell, Avery, Hayes, Annie and Willa.

A memorial service for Virginia will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 10, at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Houston.