Virginia Louise Baynton

November 20, 1922 - October 11, 2019

Virginia L. Baynton, 96, of Buckley, passed away Friday, October 11, 2019 at Traverse Manor. Virginia was born November 20, 1922 in Empire, MI to the late John and Rose (Aeschliman) Lake. Virginia was a life-long native of the area and attended Central School on Eighth Street. On June 22, 1940, she married the former Alfred P. Baynton in Traverse City. Virginia was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and friend. She enjoyed gardening, tending to her beautiful flowers and in her later years playing Bingo. The Detroit Tigers also brought great joy (or frustration) to Virginia. She worked several years at Medical Care Facilities now known as the Pavilions. She then went on to work at Munson in the laundry department and sewing room where she eventually retired after 13 years. Virginia was well known for her beautiful skill of knitting and crocheting. Over the years she made many baby blankets, bed dolls, monkeys slipper socks, and sweater sets. She was very generous with her talent and often made hats and mittens for neighboring needy school children to help keep them warm during the winter. Then in her older years she made countless lap blankets for residents of the nursing home that might need them too. She was a member of the St. Mary’s of Hannah Catholic Church and enjoyed attending St. Patrick Catholic Church as well. Above all else Virginia loved her family and they will all miss her dearly. Surviving Virginia are her children, Barbara (Wayne) Radcliffe of Traverse City, John (Jean) Baynton of Buckley, Lorraine (Mike) Hamilton of Kingsley, Elaine (Mike) Mezzano of Higgins Lake, and Gary (Shannon) Baynton of Buckley; her daughter-in-law Marie Baynton of Grawn; 22 grandchildren; 27 great grandchildren; 7 great great grandchildren; and many nieces, and nephews. Virginia is preceded in death by her beloved husband Alfred; sons, Bill and Perry; grandsons Roger Baynton and Scott Hamilton; great grandson Brennan; seven brothers; William Lake, Charles Lake, Frederick Lake, Dale Lake, John Lake, Edward Lake, Carl Lake; four sisters Ida Umlor, Alice Brooke, Rosemary Kluth and Lucille Nichols. Visitation will be held from 5-7pm with a 7pm rosary prayed on Tuesday, October 15, 2019 at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11am on Wednesday, October 16, at St. Mary’s of Hannah Catholic Church with a visitation held one hour prior. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery following the services. In remembrance, memorials may be directed to Mass Intentions, the American Heart Association or a charity of one’s choice. The family would like to thank the staff at the Traverse Manor for the great care that Virginia received for the last 16 months. Kindly share thoughts and memories at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com. The family is being cared for by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.