Virginia H. Troyer

Virginia (Jinny) Holmes Troyer, 81, peacefully passed on April 14, 2020.  Jinny was born March 3, 1939 Lockport, NY to Clifford and Ruth Holmes of Barker, NY. She graduated from Barker Central School in 1955 and graduated with a degree in Music Education from SUNY Potsdam in 1960.  She was a music teacher for elementary schools and gave private music lessons.  One of her greatest joys was her family band she assembled the last year of her life. 

In 1961 she married the love of her life, Jarnot (Ty) DeVere Troyer, of Clarence Center, NY who preceded her in death. They were married for 53 years. They settled in Bowie, MD where they became active members of their community. Jinny was baptized into Christ as a young mother in her 20’s. She stayed focused on her commitment to Christ for all her life. Her children are: Karen (Carryn) Ruth Troyer of Manassas, VA (David Woollard), Dr. Lisa Lynn Troyer who preceded her in death and Jarnot (Jay) DeVere Troyer Jr. of Bowie, MD.  Her children remember her active participation in their lives and their children’s lives.

Her seven musical inclined grandchildren are Joshua David Woollard, Jonathan DeVere Woollard, Jarnot DeVere Troyer III, Sierra Danielle Woollard, Jenna Mae Troyer, Matthew Alexander Troyer, and Jacob DeVere Troyer. Her grandchildren fondly remember all the road trips they had with their grandparents.  Jinny leaves to cherish her memory, her brother Walter Clifford Holmes (Sue) of Ransomville, NY, her Aunt Mary Sadlocka of Middleport, NY, brothers-in-law Brian Troyer (Sharon) & Rod Troyer (Bonnie) and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.   

Later in life she received a Master in paralegal studies from Bowie State University while working at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.  After 20 years of dedicated and meritorious service to the US Government, she retired in 1999.

During her life in Bowie, she was known as a volunteer and a leader.  She was a member of the Bowie Church of Christ and enjoyed teaching children’s Bible Class, also hosting and working with Ladies Bible Class. 

Jinny and Ty spent many years as team captains raising money for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life after losing their daughter, Lisa to cancer in 2000.

Jinny was a Camp Fire Leader for her daughters’ and granddaughters’ clubs from 1960’s-2010’s and spent several years training new club leaders as a Leadership Coordinator. She was also a Cub Scout Den Mother and Boy Scout Merit Badge Counselor.  She and Ty were members of many Volksmarching clubs and enjoyed spending weekends hiking around the country.

Jinny, her daughters and her granddaughter, Sierra, are members of the Daughters of the American Revolutions and she belonged to the Elizabeth McIntosh Hammil Chapter DAR & Governor Robert Bowie Chapter DAR.

A celebration of Jinny’s life will be a “coffee-house” style celebration.   We hope you will share not only your stories of mom, but play a tune, sing a song, tell a joke, read a poem, do a dance, or perform whatever you would like to honor her. s.  Due to unknown COVID restrictions, tentative plans for Virginia Troyer’s Celebration of Life to be held on Saturday, July 10, 2021 from 4pm-6pm at the Bowie Church of Christ building located at 2518 Kenhill Dr, Bowie, MD 20715.

Also tentative plans for Virginia’s internment to be on Wednesday, July 14, 2021 at 1 pm at the Somerset Cemetery in Somerset, New York located on the South side of Lake Rd (Hwy 18) about a half mile East of Hwy 148.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the AACC Foundation for the Lisa Lynn Troyer Memorial Scholarship Fund #1187 at Anne Arundel Community College, 101 College Parkway, Arnold MD 21012. Memorial donations may also be made to the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life at:

http://main.acsevents.org/goto/VirginiaTroyer or mail checks to: American Cancer Society, Mrs. Carryn Troyer Woollard MA Relay for Life of Prince William County 5771458, ATTN: Relay for Life of Prince William County - ARXS43, 405 Williams Court Suite 120, Baltimore, MD 21220