Virginia Benningfield, former long-time resident of McKinney, died quietly on July 1, 2023 in California with her granddaughter, Susan Ring, and close friends and caregivers at her side. She was born July 7, 1922, and celebrated her l00th birthday with a large party last year.

Born in Clarksville, Texas, she married her high school sweetheart, Jasper Thomas Benningfield, in January, 1940. Following World War II, the couple with young daughter, Diann, moved to McKinney in 1949 and opened a local branch of a successful business which exists today. Thomas was the manager and Virginia was the bookkeeper and sometimes assistant manager.

For more than 50 years, the couple were quite active many community activities, especially The First Baptist Church. Mrs. Benningfield also will be remembered as one of the leaders of the TAC Horizon Club, an unusually involved group of 27 girls who graduated McKinney High School in 1961.

Following Mr. Benningfield’s death in 2005, Mrs. Benningfield moved to a retirement community near her daughter in Claremont, California. There she also lived an active life with many new friends.

Mrs. Benningfield is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Diann and Robert Ring; two grandchildren, Rob and Susan Ring; daughter-in-law, Julie Ring; and two great-grandchildren, Jasper and Ella. She is also survived by a sister-in-law and a number of nephews and nieces.

A graveside service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, July 20, 2023 at Ridgeview Memorial Park in Allen, Texas.