Virginia Adele Eagles Umberger, 108, of Elgin passed away peacefully, on October 29, 2017. She was born on May 28, 1909 near Wilmette, Il. When she was 11 years old, her father, a Chicago dentist, moved the family to Wolcottville, IN., a small agrarian community. Virginia eventually attended Northwestern University, majoring in English literature, becoming a Tri Delt and graduating as a Phi Beta Kappa. After a brief business course, she landed a position at the information desk of the Merchandise Mart where she met her future husband, Alton Umberger. They married and lived in Chicago's Rogers Park. Virginia became active in the Great Books course, sewing classes and Antoinette Pope School of Cooking. Following the birth of their daughter, Nancy, she became active in Brownies and Girl Scouts. They moved to Elgin, Il in 1950 and attended the First United Methodist Church. Buying a lot across the street from their Elgin home, they began growing gourds, which led to the entire process of cultivating, cleaning and curing them for a variety of uses. Following her artistic bent, Virginia fashioned beautiful gourd wreaths, often donating them to the church's Mistletoe Mart. She joined several gourd societies and eventually she and Alton exhibited their gourd items at various Midwestern gourd and flower shows to include the impressive annual exposition at Chicago's McCormick Place. Virginia presented gourd programs, gave workshops on wreath making and corresponded with several individuals around the world regarding their various gourd collections. Virginia became a member of the Elgin Garden Club, the PEO chapter DY, the literary group Mathians, a local Travel Class and the Illinois and Wisconsin chapters of the American Rock Garden Society. Her home was often included in the Elgin Area Garden Walk featuring her rich assortment of wildflowers. She has been written up extensively by newspapers and magazines not only for her many accomplishments but for her philosophy on nature and life as well. The tenets of the group entitled "The Wild Ones" endorsed her own sentiments on the protection and proliferation of native plants. She appears in the book "Grace From the Garden" as well as in the Barrington Area Council on Aging's book "Passions." She is survived by her daughter, Nancy (John); two grandchildren, Andrew (Tracy) and Bruce(Tracy) and four great grandchildren: Kristen, Max, Simon and Michael. She was preceded in death by her husband, Alton Umberger and her parents, Albert and Clara Eagles. A memorial service will be held at a date in the near future and at a site to be determined. Donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Elgin or the PEO chapter DY of Elgin.