Virginia Ethel Hall Skye Cole, 89, of Comstock Avenue, Syracuse, passed away peacefully at home on Oct. 14, 2019. She was born Sept. 26, 1930, in Syracuse, daughter of Mildred Way Hall and Harold Gibner Hall. Virginia went to high school at Onondaga Valley Academy, in Syracuse and received her bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University School of Nursing, class of 1952. She completed three master’s degrees; School Nurse Teaching from SUNY Cortland, Nursing and Public Health from Columbia University Teachers College and the School of Public Health and Administrative Medicine.
Virginia was an RN, working private duty, was a school nurse and taught health at Saint Ann’s Parochial School, West Hill, Marcellus and Auburn Central Schools. She was an assistant professor at the School of Allied Health Professions at SUNY Stony Brook, receiving a special award for her mentorship to nursing students. Virginia had a dual appointment in school of Nursing and Public Health, at the University of Hawaii. She was Chief Regional Nursing Consultant for 17 years in charge of program planning and quality assurance for the Veterans Administration, Northeast Regional Medical Education Center (NE-RMEC) in Northport, Long Island, N.Y. Virginia also joined health teams serving hills tribes people/Chiang Mai Thailand, Bedouin Arab tribes people/Ismailia, Egypt, and nationals in American Samoa.
Virginia met her first husband of 12 years, William (Skyinskus) Skye of South Plainfield, NJ, at Syracuse University, and they raised their four children in Marcellus. She was active with the sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma, was an accomplished vocalist, loved her gardens, theater, dance, international travel, embraced cultures, was extremely generous, was a great encourager and had the “gift of gab!”
Her second husband, John Lee Cole of Caddo Lake, Uncertain, TX predeceased her on Dec. 8, 2012. Virginia is survived by her children William Charles Skye (Martha Rojas) of Stow Creek, NJ, Nancy Dee Skye of Syracuse, NY, Robert Alan Skye (Cynthia) of Colon, NE, and Barbara Skye Siegel (Douglas) of Tucson, AZ. She has two grandsons, Dylan Robert Skye of Hollywood, CA and Tyler Kevin Skye, of Nashville, TN. Brothers Howard H. Hall (Rolling Hills, CA) and Richard H. Hall (Laguna Hills, CA) also predeceased her. She has several surviving nieces and nephews: Carol E. Hall (David), Kristin E. Hall (Richard), Elizabeth M. Hall (Michael), Howard Harry Hall II, John H. Hall (Tracy), Joanne M. Hall (Carla), and cousins, Bruce R. Way (Mary), Nancy Way Nash, Melanie Punte Puerto Conte (Michael), Angela Puerto Cortina (Angel), and Daniela Puerto.
Private Celebration of Life Services, arrangements by G.F. Zimmer Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent to GFZ52@ yahoo.com.
