Virginia Larthrop Waters

Virginia (Ginger) Lathrop Waters, 89, of DeLand, Florida, went to be with her Lord on May 29, 2026 at Halifax Health–Hospice Care Center in Ormond Beach, surrounded by her loving family. Born in Bethel, Maine, she and her family tent-camped during their migration to DeLand, Florida when she was 13 years old. The family continued to grow after arrival, and at one time the 12 Lathrop’s were even featured in the DeLand Sun News as the largest family in DeLand.

Ginger worked as a nurse and the Assistant Administrator at Fish Memorial Hospital for many years. After her time at the hospital, she worked for 18 years overseeing day-to-day operations of the FDOT District 5 Credit Union in DeLand. She then finally retired. She loved to swim, camp, and explore the U.S. with her husband and sons. Oftentimes, returning home from a day at Daytona Beach, she had the role of the “distractor” as the old family Ford station wagon passed the Krispy Kreme shop on the way back to DeLand. With four growing boys to feed, a couple bucks for donuts sometimes had to be left behind!

She enjoyed traveling, and cruised to many parts of the world, but above all, Ginger was a voracious reader. Books were never far from her mind (or hands or ears), and she devoured a wide range of genres, including romance, western, suspense, and most recently, dystopian novels. She recorded many of those books in a log, complete with ratings and comments. Ginger passed her love of reading onto her sons and grandchildren, who regularly traded reviews and recommendations with her.

She was preceded in death by her father, Gordon E. Lathrop, her mother, Buelah Burris Lathrop, and her husband, Robert S. (Bobby) Waters, whom she married on Halloween in 1954. They spent the next 59 years together. Also preceding her in death were brothers Thomas and Ralph, and sister Prudie Hudson. She is survived by her four sons, of whom she was extremely proud: Wayne Robert (Jan-Marie) of DeLand, Jeffrey Storm of DeLand, Gordon Craig (Mary) of Navarre, and Russell Ralph (Carol) of Oviedo. Surviving siblings are sisters Jackie Sneed, Diana Brock (Edwin), Esther Gould, Carrie Cardascia (John), Barbara Bush (Mike), and brother Kenneth Lathrop (Myong).

She is also survived by 15 grandchildren: Justin, David, McKendree, Hunter, Sarah-Glenn, Madeleine, Craig, Kevin, Kyle, Heather, Trent, Samuel, Zachary, Tanner, and Rebekah; 19 nieces and nephews; and 9 great-grandchildren.

At her request, no service will be held. However, there will be a private interment service at a later date, followed by a celebration of her life. The family would like to acknowledge those friends who reached out during her final days, and especially the medical team at Halifax Health Hospice, Ormond Beach. A special thank you to Cindy and Donna at Halifax Hospice West Volusia who looked after her like she was family.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Friends of the Deland Library in her name. Lankford Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Godspeed, Mom (Nana).