Virginia Lee (Pollins) McCrary

Virgina Pollins McCrary, age 77, of Fletcher, North Carolina, died on October 21. Born in Pittsburgh, PA, she was the daughter of Frances Jane (Denney) Pollins and Calvin E. Pollins. She is survived by her husband of 47 years, William Michael (Mike) McCrary; siblings Jane Johnson (Dave) of Newton Square, PA, Ann P. Thompson (Ben, deceased) of Raleigh, NC, and Calvin Pollins (Mary) of Greensburg, PA. She is also survived by stepchildren Michael Jr. of Sheffield Village, OH, Chuck (Robyn) of Fairview, NC, and Missy (John) McWhortor of Munroe, OH. Also survived by a sister-in-law, Mayron Sprinkle, brother-in-law Pat of Fairview, NC, and many nieces and nephews in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, California, Iowa, Washington, Minnesota and Maryland.

Virginia grew up on a dairy farm in Greensburg/Latrobe PA area and never lost her love for animals and nature. While living in Hooper’s Creek, NC, she raised AKC registered Collies, Bassett Hounds and Bloodhounds, a couple horses, and always fed wandering birds and turkeys. She was a 1963 graduate of Latrobe High School and a 1966 graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan. She taught school in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Asheville, and spent 19 years as a Special Education teacher at Bruce Drysdale Elementary School in Hendersonville, NC. After retiring in 1994, she substituted until 2018.

As a community volunteer, she was a member of the Fletcher Community Chorus and a substitute driver for the Henderson County Meals on Wheels program. She left her volunteer positions in August 2019 when she was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma.

A memorial service will be held at Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian, 72 Long Shoals Rd, Arden, NC at 11:00 am on Saturday, October 28. Friends will be received following the service.

Contributions are asked to go to Council of Aging for Henderson County, 105 King Creek Blvd., Hendersonville, NC 28792; Feed & Seed, PO Box 34, Arden, NC 28704; Black Mountain Home for Children, 80 Lake Eden Road, Black Mountain, NC 28711; Eliada Home, 2 Compton Drive, Asheville, NC 28806.