Virginia Calvert Epps of Sonora, Texas passed away peacefully on November 1, 2023. Virginia Calvert Curry was born in San Antonio, Texas on June 18, 1937, to William Calvert Curry and Mary Josephine Longley. She lived in Ozona, San Angelo, Sylvester, Del Rio and Sonora. She attended public school in San Angelo and completed her senior year in Heidelberg, Germany. She attended Texas Tech University, Texas Christian University, and University of Colorado Boulder. Virginia earned a BA in Education at Abilene Christian College. She was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority.
She married Donald Loding Campbell Sr., in San Angelo in 1959. They moved to the Sylvester area to farm and ranch. Virginia served as an educator for Rotan ISD. Her living testimony on earth is her three sons: Donald Loding Campbell, Jr., Cam Longley Campbell, and Calvert Curry Campbell. Upon her husband’s death she relocated to Del Rio where she continued teaching.
In 1980, Virginia married Benjamin R. Epps, and they made their home at the Epps Ranch south of Sonora. Virginia loved ranching and raising Angora goats and Black Angus cattle. She was actively involved in Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers Association and the Mohair Council of America. She served her community as a board member of the Lillian Hudspeth Memorial Hospital and Women of St. John’s Episcopal Church. Through her involvement with Sonora Women’s Club, she was instrumental in the expansion of the Sutton County Library. She traveled the world extensively and in 2009, returned from South America, where she was inspired to establish High Cross Vineyard of Sutton County raising wine grapes.
Virginia was an avid reader, accomplished bridge player, and greatly appreciated arts and culture. She enjoyed sharing books and poetry and most of all her love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Virginia is preceded in death by her parents, husband Don Sr., husband Ben, and sister, Josephine Kay Curry Emery.
She is survived by her lifelong dear friends, Joy Morehead and Jeannie Dykes, her sons and their families: Don and Ruthann Campbell of Sweetwater, Cam and Erika Campbell, and Curry and BonnieLou Campbell, all of Sonora, her beloved grandchildren Tres and Sadie Campbell of Guthrie, True and Chelsey Lou Burson of Paducah, Kathleen Campbell of Spring Lake, North Carolina, and Chance and Harlee Campbell of Silverton. Her cherished great grandsons: Teal and Tap Burson, Milo Campbell and arriving soon, Coulter Campbell. She is also survived by her niece Kimberly Kay and husband Eddie Lozano, of Ozona and their family.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 18 at St. John’s Episcopal Church at 2:00 PM., followed by a celebration of Virginia’s life at The John and Mildred Cauthorn Memorial Depot from 3:00 – 5:00 PM. A special thanks to Hunter Hohensee and Hospice Care of Sonora, her caretaker, LaDonna Alaman, and Schleicher County Nursing Home. Memorials may be made to Alvis F. Johnson Home Health and Hospice of Sonora, Women of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Concho Valley Home for Girls or a charity of your choice.
