TRAVERSE CITY — Virginia Ruth Lutz, 87, of Traverse City, passed away Saturday, April 23, 2011, at her home with her loving family by her side. Virginia was born on March 21, 1924, in Detroit. She was the daughter of the late William and Gladys (Spikerman) Waller. She graduated from Fordson High School in Dearborn, and married her high school sweetheart, Willis Lutz ,on May 6, 1944, at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Fla. They had been married 67 years. Virginia was the mother of four children, Karen (Lynn) Collins, David (Cathy) Lutz, Pamela (Alan) Ellsworth and Virginia (Tim) Arnold. She is the grandmother of 24 grandchildren and 52 great-grandchildren. She has one surviving sister, Marilyn (Walt) Oskorip of Bevard, N.C.; and two nieces and one nephew, Janice Bates, Kelly Ritchie and Donald Oskorip. Virginia and Bill moved to Traverse City in 1968, where they were the owners of the Briar Hill Motel for five years and then moved to the peninsula where they were cherry farmers for 33 years. Virginia will be greatly missed by her children who spent many happy occasions on the farm with their own families. She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star of Michigan; chapter #147. She also attended Faith Reformed Church with her husband since 1979. The family would like to thank Hospice of Michigan for their compassionate and tireless care and service. Visitation for family and friends will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 30, at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home. The funeral service honoring Virginia's life will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 1, with visitation one hour prior at Faith Reformed Church. Memorial contributions may be directed to Order of the Eastern Star #147 in memory of Virginia. Please visit www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com to share your thoughts and memories with the family at Virginia's online guestbook. The family is being served by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home.