Virginia N. Mock

Virginia “Ginny” Mock, 91, of Goshen, died Tuesday, July 4, 2023 at Greencroft Healthcare.

She was born May 15, 1932 in Baltimore, Maryland to Fred and Elsie (Bowman) Yohn.

On August 14, 1955 she married Gordon D. Mock in Westminster, Maryland.

He survives along with a daughter, Anita (Mock) Hanawalt, Fredricksburg, Texas; a son, Neal Mock, Truckee, California; four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Along with her parents she was preceded in death by an infant brother, Fred Yohn.

Mrs. Mock touched generations of students over a 30 year teaching career, primarily serving as a first grade teacher at Middlebury Elementary School, retiring in 1992. She received her bachelor’s degree in 1953 from Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania and her master’s degree in 1966 from Western Michigan University.

Ginny was a long-time member of Middlebury Church of the Brethren. Her infectious smile and beautiful soprano voice were treasured there and at Greencroft Goshen, where she lived since 2001.

Ginny promoted international understanding through cultivating relationships with multiple exchange students over many years, including hosting an Icelandic exchange student for a year in 1975. A note placed in the pocket of a donated coat for German civilian relief at the close of World War II resulted in a lifelong friendship, first as pen pals and then visits to Germany and Australia. Her spirit of adventure included being a Lamaze childbirth method pioneer in 1959, riding in a hot air balloon, and going paragliding during a trip to Australia and New Zealand.

Memorial service will be Saturday, July 22 at 1:30 p.m. at Middlebury Church of the Brethren, 507 West Bristol Avenue.

Memorial gifts in Virginia’s honor may be directed to the church or Heifer International.