Obituary for Virginia Portney "Ginger" Klapp
Mary Virginia Portney Klapp (“Ginger”) of Lancaster passed away peacefully on September 15, 2022.
She was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico on May 19, 1934 to Agnes Leaming Portney and Leon Roberts Portney. Her father’s business later took the family to New York City; Colombia, South America; Charleston, SC; Mansfield, LA; Savannah, GA; and Valley Stream, NY, where she graduated from Valley Stream Central High School. She then attended the College of William & Mary, where she met and later married Hubert A Klapp (Herb) in 1957. After graduating with a BS in mathematics, Ginger worked at IBM in NYC, and later in Washington, DC, as a programer and systems analyst. She specialized in the space programs division, specifically satellite tracking, and contributed her expertise to the work on Project Mercury. With Herb, she raised three children while living in Bethesda, MD and Centreville, MD. The family went on to live in many lovely places: Virginia Beach, VA; Kiawah Island, SC; and Williamsburg, VA before settling in Laurel Point, Lancaster, VA.
Ginger enjoyed sports of all kinds and loved playing golf and tennis. She was passionate about playing bridge, and was a life master. She especially enjoyed the many friends she made both as bridge partners and in friendly competition. After retiring, she devoted her time to her growing family, her church, gardening, and to community projects. In Lancaster, she was a member of Grace Episcopal Church, where she was on the altar guild. She was also a member of the William & Mary alumni chapter board, a member of the Cobbs Hall Chapter of the DAR, and a past member of Indian Creek Country Club.
She leaves behind her beloved husband Herb, her daughter Karen Klapp Livesay (Richard), her son David Leaming Klapp (Marielle), grandson Kyle Anderson Livesay (Madeline), granddaughter Jenna Alexandria Livesay; her brother Robert Leaming Portney (Betty) and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she is predeceased by her sister, Patricia Ann Portney Stern, her brother Leon Robers Portney, Jr., and her son, Michael Kevin Klapp.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Grace Episcopal Church, in Lancaster, VA; or to the William & Mary Scholarship Fund.
She was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico on May 19, 1934 to Agnes Leaming Portney and Leon Roberts Portney. Her father’s business later took the family to New York City; Colombia, South America; Charleston, SC; Mansfield, LA; Savannah, GA; and Valley Stream, NY, where she graduated from Valley Stream Central High School. She then attended the College of William & Mary, where she met and later married Hubert A Klapp (Herb) in 1957. After graduating with a BS in mathematics, Ginger worked at IBM in NYC, and later in Washington, DC, as a programer and systems analyst. She specialized in the space programs division, specifically satellite tracking, and contributed her expertise to the work on Project Mercury. With Herb, she raised three children while living in Bethesda, MD and Centreville, MD. The family went on to live in many lovely places: Virginia Beach, VA; Kiawah Island, SC; and Williamsburg, VA before settling in Laurel Point, Lancaster, VA.
Ginger enjoyed sports of all kinds and loved playing golf and tennis. She was passionate about playing bridge, and was a life master. She especially enjoyed the many friends she made both as bridge partners and in friendly competition. After retiring, she devoted her time to her growing family, her church, gardening, and to community projects. In Lancaster, she was a member of Grace Episcopal Church, where she was on the altar guild. She was also a member of the William & Mary alumni chapter board, a member of the Cobbs Hall Chapter of the DAR, and a past member of Indian Creek Country Club.
She leaves behind her beloved husband Herb, her daughter Karen Klapp Livesay (Richard), her son David Leaming Klapp (Marielle), grandson Kyle Anderson Livesay (Madeline), granddaughter Jenna Alexandria Livesay; her brother Robert Leaming Portney (Betty) and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she is predeceased by her sister, Patricia Ann Portney Stern, her brother Leon Robers Portney, Jr., and her son, Michael Kevin Klapp.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Grace Episcopal Church, in Lancaster, VA; or to the William & Mary Scholarship Fund.