Virginia Clott

My mom, Virginia Ann Clott, age 84, born on Aug. 1, 1941, to Kenneth H Barger and Ruth E (Bailey) Barger, passed away on Sept. 26, 2025, in my arms, her only child. 

My wife and I are thankful that she was with us in her final moments. She had spent the last eight years in our home. 

Mom was a graduate of Fort Recovery High School in 1959 and lived in Fort Recovery most of her life, right across the street from the Fort Recovery Monument. She worked at the Jay Garment in Portland in her younger years, and for 29 years she worked at the courthouse in Celina, Ohio, as a recorder of deeds and marriages and at the end of her career as deputy recorder under Pat Grote and Tammy Barger. 

She is survived by her ex-husband Donald Clott of Portland; son Greg; her daughter-in-law Irina of Sigonella Navy Base, Sigonella, Sicily; three grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. 

Mom’s brothers, Harold and Keith, passed before her, Harold in 2013 and Keith in 1983.

Mom very much enjoyed her tea times with Janet McCain while living in Fort Recovery, and visits from Bobby Betz, John Betz and his dog Tripper.

I want to thank Jerry and Tammy Barger for being her guardians all those years and for Celina Manor for providing her with outstanding rehabilitation after her strokes. When she arrived at Celina Manor, she was unable to talk clearly, walk by herself, feed herself, go to the bathroom or bathe herself. After her rehabilitation, she was able to do all of those things. Chalk one up for neuroplasticity and the efforts of the professional staff at Celina Manor! Mom loved playing bingo there, picking on the nurses and getting her hair done. Jerry and Tammy picked a great place for her to rehabilitate and to live.

In 2017, mom came to live with my wife Irina and I in Crestview, Florida. Her favorite things to do during that time were to make and drink coffee and to read romance novels by Nora Roberts and Sandra Brown. We took her to get her hair and nails done, go to the Crestview library to collect her (15) books every two weeks and have a meal at Johny O’quiglies, Cracker Barrel or Waffle House. She loved the waffles. Since June 2023, she lived on the shore of Costa Saracena, Sicily, as I took a job with the United States Navy at Region Headquarters Sigonella Sicily.

A final thanks needs to go to my wife Irina for taking such good care of her all the years she lived with us. She always made the right choices for her in her diet and care and cooked her delicious home cooked meals and soups that she loved. Mom also loved my falling-off-the-bone BBQ ribs and chili soup. Mom always complimented me on my apple dumplings that my grandmother Mildred Clott had taught me how to make.

In Sicily, mom continued to read books, cruise Facebook on her Kindle to keep up with the goings on with her family and friends, smoke out on the balcony overlooking the sea and Mount Etna (Mount Etna smoked with her as an active volcano), drink her coffee and feed the dogs under the table (grumble). And we took her to get her hair and nails done to keep her the beautiful lady she was. She is in God’s hands now and hopefully visiting with family who have moved on before her.

Guests may visit with her family on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, at Brockman Boeckman Funeral Home, Fort Recovery, from 5 to 7 p.m. A celebration of Virginia’s life will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home with Pastor Ron McCallum officiating.

A graveside service, during which her cremains will be interred with her parents, will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025, at Spring Hill Cemetery, Fort Recovery.

Condolences may be shared with her family by visiting brockmanboeckmanfh.com.