Virginia Lou Higgins Witt, age 94, of O'Fallon, Ill., born February 22, 1931, to Ralph and Frances (Butler) Higgins, died peacefully in her sleep on Friday, December 12, 2025.

Virginia grew up in Stillwater, Okla., graduating from Stillwater High School and from Oklahoma State University, where she received a B.A. in Art and minored in Architecture and Household Arts, and completed requirements for a teaching certificate. Virginia took great pride in being the daughter of OSU track and field coach Ralph Higgins. She was an OSU fan her entire life and looked forward to returning to her hometown every fall to attend OSU football games and visit with family and friends.

Virginia and Raymond J. Witt were married on December 26, 1959, at March Air Force Base, Calif. They spent many years traveling as an Air Force family before landing at Scott Air Force Base and retiring. One of Virginia's favorite duty stations was the Philippines. Virginia often shared many stories of how fond she was of living there. While living there, she met her lifelong friend Norma Dingal. Norma lived with the Witt family in the Philippines and the United States for several years. Virginia often referred to her as her daughter/sister/friend.

Virginia was an artist and craftsman all of her life. She was a Student Art Instructor at Oklahoma State University, a Student Art teacher at Ramona High School, Riverside, Calif., a Special Activities Instructor at various military bases, an Arts and Crafts Instructor at Bollmeier Hobby Shop, Belleville, Ill., and an Artist Assistant at Leech Art Studio, Sarasota, Fla. Since college, she pursued additional studies at Dillman's Creative Arts Foundation, Lac du Flambeau, Wis., Leech Art Studio, Sarasota, Fla., Springmaid Watermedia Workshops, Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Sedona Art Center, Sedona, Ariz. She mastered many different techniques, her favorite being Collage and Mixed Media. Virginia participated in art shows and art exhibits across the United States, including Arkansas, California, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Iowa, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, Arizona, Colorado, and Clark Air Base, Philippines. Her beautiful works of art won several awards. The most recent being Best of Show in 2017 at the Midwest Salute to the Arts, Fairview Heights, Ill. On her 90th birthday, she learned a new painting technique, in which one of her pieces won Best of Show in 2023 at the senior art show at The Schmidt Art Center, Belleville, Ill. When she wasn't working on her art pieces, she worked tirelessly on hand-painted ornaments for local craft shows, which developed quite a following.

In her free time, Virginia loved watching Oklahoma State football, NFL, gardening, golfing, trying new restaurants, and traveling as much as she could. She especially loved cruising and had been on at least 15 cruises. Her favorite places to visit were Oklahoma, Colorado, and Arizona. Virginia was an avid bridge player and met her beloved husband, Raymond, while playing. The couple continued playing bridge together in many different groups. The highlight of her week was playing cards with her friends. She was a wonderful mother, grandmother, family member and friend. Virginia loved everyone she met dearly.

Memorials can be made to The Schmidt Art Center at Southwestern Illinois University in Belleville or Randy's Rescue Ranch in O'Fallon . Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.wfh-ofallon.com.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Frances (nee Butler) Higgins, her beloved husband Raymond J. Witt, her sister, Janet Higgins Anderson, and brother-in-law, William Witt.

Surviving are her son, David (Linda) Witt of O'Fallon, and daughter Janet Witt Stockmann of Shiloh. Also surviving are grandchildren Theresa (John) Dixon, David Witt II, Michael, Christopher, and Matthew Stockmann; great-grandchildren Trent and Morgan; brother-in-law Gene Anderson, of Stillwater, Okla., and sister-in-law Jane Witt, of Little Rock, Ark., and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Visitation: 3-6 pm, Sunday, December 21, 2025 at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, 102 W. Washington St., O'Fallon, Ill.

A funeral procession will depart the funeral home at 10:15 am, Monday, December 22, 2025 for a Graveside Committal Service to be held at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, at 11 am.

Wolfersberger Funeral Home, O'Fallon, Ill., is serving the Witt family.