Sinor, Virginia Ruth Meyer

Held Long Career In Social Work, Was Avid Swimmer And A Wonderful Hostess

Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Virginia Sinor

Virginia Ruth Meyer Sinor died on Wednesday, May 12, 2021.

Virginia was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee on May 12, 2021. She was the eldest of six children born to the late William Christian Meyer and Linda Hildegarde (Aring) Meyer. Her parents raised her in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod where she also went to elementary school under the teaching of Pastor Jahn.

She learned to love a wide variety of vegetables from her father, a farmer, who won prizes for growing the best vegetables in the area. Her baking and cooking prowess came from her mother and her paternal aunt Nora.

Her father farmed land throughout the area from Chattanooga to Dayton, Tn. Nearly a century ago, he farmed land on Shallowford Rd. Virginia and her brothers would swim in the creek that ran through the land. The central Chattanooga USPS Post office is now located on the same land.

Virginia graduated from Central High School, where she was the salutatorian. She was told by the school administration, that a mistake had been made - that Virginia actually had the highest grades in her class, but that it was too late to change it since they had already told another that she was valdictorian. Virginia was a humble person, and accepted their decision.

She graduated with a B.A. in English Literature from Ohio Wesleyan University (her mother was originally from Ohio). She began working in social work, but left in order to complete her first year of graduate school at Columbia University in New York City for a Master's Degree in Social Work. The following summer she returned home to Chattanooga to assist her father caring for her mother who had suffered a lengthy illness, and to resume working at the Department of Human Services. She met Thomas Eugene Sinor of Cleveland, Tennessee, decided not to return to graduate school, and eventually married him in 1953, with their wedding ceremony held at the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod in Chattanooga. They had four children: Madeleine Sinor, Julie Sinor Aring, Justin Sinor, and Hallie Sinor. She became a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church where she was choir mother for many years. She raised her children together with her husband, Gene. She returned to work for the Department of Human Services in 1979.

She became supervisor for the Hamilton County Child Sexual Abuse unit of the Department of Human Services. She was a pioneer in bringing awareness to the issue of child sexual abuse in our area. She also worked with the Victory Unit. She retired from her career in social work in 1997.

Virginia Sinor swam at the YMCA downtown for decades. She placed many times in both state and national swim events, on both Master's and Senior Olympic levels. She also loved hiking, and was a longtime member of the Cumberlands Hiking Club. She hiked Mount LaConte many times, and also travelled across the USA to many states to hike there. She was a member of two book clubs.

At her home, Virginia was a preeminent hostess of gatherings for friends and family where she would prepare wholesome, but exquisite, multi-course meals. Everyone wanted to have one of her meals.

She attended First Presbyterian Church. Although a traditional Christian by circumstance and upbringing, she eagerly read chapters in the Bible at home to her son, who was also her sole caregiver of ten years. She continued discussing the Scripture at length with her son across the decades. She privately professed to him a transformation that took place in her during her last year. Her certainty of the shed blood of Christ for her sins, and her conviction of the physical resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and the coming resurrection of the dead, replaced her former lifelong doubts according to her personal testimony. Her son witnessed a peace that surpasses all understanding settle over her during her last year.

She was a loving, gracious, gentle, and kind person.

In addition to her four children, Virginia Sinor is survived by her two grandchildren, Vivien Jeanne Marguerite Sinor Douglas and Tabitha Sea Sinor Goldman. She is also survived by her nephews and niece: Craig Meyer, Brent Meyer, William Meyer, Linda Meyer Slaten, Mark Meyer, and Eric Meyer. Virginia was preceded in death by Thomas Eugene Sinor and her five brothers, William Henry Meyer, Ervin Meyer, Jack Meyer, James Meyer, and George Meyer.

Visitation will be held at First Presbyterian Church on McCallie Ave. in Chattanooga, Tn., on June 25, from 12 noon to 1pm. A Memorial Service in remembrance of Virginia's life will be held immediately following at 1pm. Following the service, inurnment with service by Reverend Ehlers will be at Chattanooga Memorial Park 501 Memorial Drive Chattanooga, TN 37415 at 2PM.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in Virginia's honor to First Presbyterian Church 554 McCallie Ave , Chattanooga, TN US 37402|423-267-1206. Also donations may be given in her memory to the Cumberlands Hiking Club or to the Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga, which provides transportation services for elderly individuals.

End of life services are being provided by Hamilton Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 4506 Hixson Pike, Hixson, Tennessee, (423) 531-3975.