Virginia “Ginny” Potes 88 passed away peacefully on December 31, 2025, at Country Club Retirement and Rehabilitation Center Mount Vernon, Ohio after a long battle with Dementia.
Ginny was born in Columbus Ohio to Harold and Garnet Dewey. She was an avid reader and loved to share her passion with those around her. While Ginny enjoyed reading all sorts of books, nothing could compare to her love for the author Nora Roberts/JD Robb. She had the opportunity to travel to Boonsboro MD in 2017 to meet Nora Roberts at a book signing and to this day, was one of her most cherished memories. In recent years, illness had made it so she couldn’t enjoy books like she once did but that didn’t stop her from remaining surrounded by her favorite hobby. Nobody loved a good piece of jewelry more than Ginny and she could spot quality turquoise from a mile away! She retired from Ariel Corporation. In her later years, she opened her home to multiple rescue dogs and they filled her home with love and companionship.
Ginny found herself alone raising 3 small children at a time where that was most uncommon. The perils and hard times that she faced made her kids the people they are today. She later met and married the love of her life Wayne Potes and became a blended family.
Ginny was preceded in death by her beloved husband Wayne Potes, who was taken far too soon from this earth. Ginny would often share with her family memories of the trips and adventures that she and Wayne would go on and her love for him remained so strong. She was also preceded in death by her Stepson Clayton Potes; her parents and her siblings William Dewey and Dorothy Ramsier.
She is survived by her 5 children, Scott (Rhonda) Shelhorn, Beth (Doug) Shaw, and Robert (Deb) Shelhorn, Step Daughters Phyllis Frye (George) and Cindy Linkous, special niece Arianne Newman (Scott), her loving companion Buddy as well as many loving grandchildren.
Ginny’s memory will live on through the lives she touched and the love she shared. She will be dearly missed by those who loved her. The family will observe a graveside service, . Please share any memories you have of Ginny on this page for her family and community to remember her by.
Ginny’s family would like to give a special Thank you to the team at Country Club Retirement and Rehabilitation Center, Everyone from the cooks to housekeeping to activities, aides, nurses and staff have grown to love Ginny and will miss her greatly. Also thank you to Capital City Hospice for your all encompassing care.
Ginny’s quote to her granddaughter Meghan was to remember “You can go anywhere you want and be anything you want by simply picking up a book”.
A graveside service will be held on Friday, January 16, 2026, beginning at 1pm in Amity Cemetery with Pastor Marvin Haught officiating.
To send the family a condolence online visit: www.snyderfuneralhomes.com
The Snyder Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Virginia “Ginny” Potes.
Funeral Home: Snyder Funeral Home – Dowds Chapel
Website: snyderfuneralhomes.com