Virgetta Rose Johnson-Smith died peacefully in her home on May 3, 2019. She was 73 years old. Virgetta was born July 29, 1945 in Story City, 10WCi. She was the fourth child of Martin and Bernice Caltvedt. Virgetta grew up on a farm in Story County. She was the subject of her father's photographs because of her natural beauty and her good nature. Virzetta was the county 4-H President. She attended Iowa State University for one year. She married David Kent Johnson in 1964. They later divorced. To this union was born four children, Jill, Maria, Rich and Chris. Her children were one of the great joys in her life. Virgetta went back to college during the time she had four children at home, and she was a single parent. This was not easy but she handled it with grace and style. Her children still do not know how she did it. Virgetta graduated from Muscatine Community College in 1981 and the University of Iowa in 1984. Her area of study was early childhood education. Virgetta taught for one year in Muscatine. In 1988, she moved her two sons to EI Paso, Texas, and she lived there for 30 years. She loved the sunshm., of EI Paso, the good Mexican food, and the mild winters. Virgetta worked as an administrator of a child development center on Fort Bliss for 21 years. This was not an easy job! Her hard work and her ability to finish her education later in life made her a role model for all who were fortunate enough to know her. In 2008, Virgetta married Dr. Carl Wayne Smith. He was her choir director at church, and that is where they met. She loved her church family. Her most recent church was St Albans Episcopal Church in EI
Paso. Virgetta leaves behind her husband, Carl, her four children, Jill Johnson-West (David), Maria
(Steve) Ganesh, Rich (Janell) Johnson, and Chris (Elizabeth) Johnson. She also leaves behind eight grandchildren, Ben, Adam, Bryce, Jaiden, Ethan, Ellie, Gabriel, and Michael. Virgetta's siblings are left behind as well. They are Betty Page, Rev. Ernest Caltvedt, Dr Lester (Sarah) Caltvedt, and Elaine (Michael) Hanson. She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother-in-law, Neal Page, and a sister¬in-law, Eloise Caltvedt.
There will be a memorial service at St Alban’s Episcopal Church in El Paso, Texas on May 18 at 10am. There will be another memorial service at Bethany Lutheran Church in McCallsburg, Iowa on June 29.
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