Virginia was so happy when she was able to advance the cause for Catholic Education. She was one of the strongest advocates for Catholic Education in the Diocese, as she funded the Central City School Fund.

Virginia Greenlease was never content to simply live a life of extreme luxury—she did enjoy a bountiful and fulfilling life to be certain. She was most concerned that history might record (accurately) that the Greenlease Family, while certainly enjoying great material wealth, the important thing to the family was that this wealth had shown itself as an opportunity for Virginia and Robert to honor God, The Creator of everything good, and perhaps leave a most positive legacy, and more importantly, instill a positive impact on many, many other people’s lives. Virginia busied herself after the passing’s of Bobby in 1953, Paul in 1964, Robert in 1969, and Virginia Sue in 1984, with establishing such a myriad of opportunities for others that were intended always to  be helpful, empowering, illuminating, and often, even inspiring. And for people she would never have the opportunity and privilege to personally meet.   The number of people she has assisted is far too large to ever begin to qualify with a mere number!
 

Virginia will always be remembered for her selfless dignity, her loving charm, and her courage to continue to live out her life in a way that brought respect and esteem and honor to each member of her family. She loved Robert C. Greenlease so deeply and she relied on him to advise and advocate for her. Robert co-established with Virginia every aspect of the Greenlease Family philanthropic endeavors and enterprises, for which she became so engaged, and she managed these charitable and philanthropic efforts both during his lifetime and following Robert’s passing in 1969. Virginia said she always felt the presence of Robert following his passing as he was (in her words): “A bigger than life man who had always maintained such resolve and positive purpose in every decision he made. And particularly in his giving to so many worthy causes.”

Virginia often considered and wondered just what Bobby would have become had he been able to live out a normal and fulfilling life. Would he have gone on to operate his dad’s numerous Greenlease Cadillac Companies and other businesses? Perhaps Bobby would have become a Roman Catholic Priest. He certainly would have been encouraged along to do and to live his life according to what he wanted, all in the light of what God would reveal for him. Virginia spent her final years always believing, always affirming, and always knowing of God’s love for her. She did think back—as most of us are inclined to do—to get a sense of how her life and the lives of her family might have been without the tragic and sad loss of Bobby. Virginia did always live for today, and yet she always considered what good could come for tomorrow! She always was determined to empower others and to encourage others to do what was holy, do what was good, and do what was loving and forgiving.

Virginia always wished that her daughter Virginia Sue could have lived a much longer life. She missed Virginia Sue and often spoke of her. She knew the tragic loss of her younger brother Bobby had had a profound and lasting shadow over her own life. Virginia saw the twinkle in Robert’s eye whenever Virginia Sue would enter the room or when he took her to swimming classes and she would always be so excited when her dad pulled her in the snow on her sled. Even in later years, Virginia Sue would weep when she would recall the circumstances surrounding her younger brother Bobby’s untimely passing. Ironically, Virginia Sue had been the original intended target of the two kidnapper-murderers when the pair decided it might be easier to kidnap Bobby as he would perhaps create less resistance, since he was younger.

The memorials the family established are also always intended to honor Virginia Sue Greenlease Sterk and Paul Greenlease.