Virginia, “Ginger”, age 91, was the daughter of the Reverend J. Richard Drees and Elizabeth Johnson Drees. Born in Oak Park, IL, Ginger spent her childhood in the Chicago area. She graduated from Mendota High School in 1951. At Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, IA, Ginger met her lifelong love, Ross McNeil Ludeman. Ginger completed her degree in education at Northwestern University in 1955. Soon married on June 11,1955, Ginger and Ross moved to Princeton, NJ, where Ross attended Princeton Seminary, and she taught Kindergarten.

Together, Ginger and Ross became a team as they created communities of faith at Gurnee Community Church, Gurnee, IL, Community Presbyterian Church, Clarendon Hills, IL, and Westminster Presbyterian Church, West Hartford, CT.

Ginger enjoyed being a homemaker, a talented cook and bread baker. She held positions as the Director of Childcare at CPC and as the Administrative Assistant of the Pastoral Counseling Center in West Hartford. She raised sheep in her retirement years in Grafton, VT, and thoroughly enjoyed spinning, weaving, and knitting their wool. A deeply caring person, she valued close friends, became a Spiritual Director, and greatly loved her family and the many pets over the years.

Ginger is survived by her husband of 70 years, Ross McNeil Ludeman, her son, Evan (Anne Marie) Ludeman, granddaughter, Lisabeth Ludeman and her daughter, Margaret (Alan) Lange, and was predeceased by her granddaughter, Annika Lange. In addition, she leaves behind her brother, John (Deborah) Drees, her niece Rebecca Drees Coyne (Dan) and nephew David Drees (Tiffany), Wendy Browder and dear cousins.

The family would like to thank the Covenant Living community staff in Keene, NH for their kind support and care for Ginger.

Memorial service arrangements will be decided at a later date.