Virginia Sloan Lessert, age 90, went to be with the Lord on Monday, December 11, 2023 surrounded by her loving family following a short illness. Virginia was born January 25, 1933 in Norman, Oklahoma to the late Henry Grady and Mary Meador Sloan. She graduated from Norman High School in 1950. Virginia went on to attend the University of Oklahoma, where her father was a professor of economics. She was a member of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority where her friends set her up on a blind date for a fraternity dance with her future husband and love of her life, Joe Lessert. She graduated from OU in 1954 with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Minor in Journalism.
After graduating, Virginia and Joe were married in Oklahoma City, OK on June 26, 1955.
Virginia and Joe spent the early years of their marriage living in Fort Smith, Arkansas where Joe was stationed as an officer at Fort Chaffee. Virginia worked at the Fort Smith television station where she used her journalism skills to write all of their advertisements. They then moved to Ponca City Oklahoma and Virginia took a position with Continental Oil Company’s Land Department. While there, Joe and Virginia welcomed their daughter Andrea in 1965.
They then moved to Houston, Texas in 1968 for Joe to pursue a career with IBM. Their son Todd was born in 1972. Joe’s successful sales and marketing career with IBM spanning many years took the family to upstate New York, West Virginia, Dallas and, finally, to Tyler, Texas.
While in Tyler, Virginia enjoyed the Literary Club and Garden Club where she served as President. She served as an Elder at the First Presbyterian Church of Tyler. Virginia was later an active member at Marvin United Methodist Church.
Joe and Virginia were married for almost 60 years until Joe’s death in April 2015. Virginia then moved to Dallas to reside at Edgemere and be closer to her daughter and family. While at Edgemere, Virginia served as Social Chairman and delighted in the company of her many friends.
Virginia is survived by her daughter Andrea and her husband David Wigglesworth of McKinney, her son Todd and his wife Cassandra of San Antonio, her three grandchildren Mary Kate and husband Aric Valliere, Claire Wigglesworth, and John Carter Wigglesworth as well as two great-grandchildren Sloane Valliere and Kai Coffey. She is also survived by a brother Norman Sloan and his wife Marilyn. Virginia was preceded in death by her husband, Joe and her sister Sue Sloan Reeves.
A private memorial service will be held at the Rose Hill Cemetery in Tyler on Friday, December 22 at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Gerry Giles officiating.
A memorial service for friends and family to celebrate Virginia’s life will be held at Edgemere in Dallas on Saturday, January 6, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. with Father Thom Smith officiating.