Virginia "Ginny" Rahal

Virginia "Ginny" (Minich) Rahal, 93, of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, passed away at the UMPC Carlisle Hospital due to a brief illness with pneumonia. Just four days prior to being admitted to the hospital, she was gathering with family at a local restaurant and enjoying her occasional, old-school Beefeater martini, up with one olive. 

Ginny was born March 8, 1931, in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, to the late E. Erle and Ethel Waggoner Minich. Her father, a postmaster and her mother, a schoolteacher, had Ginny as their only child. Although Ginny lived in Carlisle her entire life, she grew up with an insatiable curiosity and yearning to experience the world through continued reading and travel. In fact, at an early age, her parents drove her halfway across the country to the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair. Later, in the 1940’s, she and her high school friends found it entertaining to drive up and down the newly built Pennsylvania Turnpike. Ginny always loved reading several daily newspapers, and in recent years, she was one of the few who still insisted on having the true paper in hand. Even in her last days, she asked, “Is there anything that you know, that I don’t know, that you think I should know?”

Ginny graduated from Dickinson College in 1952 with a Bachelor of Arts in History and was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority with whom she kept in touch years later through their local chapter. While working as a Civil Servant at the Army War College, she met David Rahal, who would later become her husband. Shortly after they married, Ginny and Dave spent a year living in New York City. While Dave completed his studies at NYU at night, Ginny would take the ferry across to Governor’s Island to work by day. They both shared fond memories of their New York apartment with a pull-down murphy bed and saving money each week to attend Broadway Saturday matinees. Our mother was always quick to remind us that you could get discounted tickets for those Saturday matinees!

During Ginny and Dave’s 60-year marriage, they enjoyed many travel adventures, including one in their first summer together, as they drove in a car all the way to Acapulco, Mexico with no air conditioning. Over time, they began to take bigger trips. In the early 1970’s, Ginny convinced Dave that they should take their children too! With two young children in tow, they made their first European trip to Scandinavia. Their widespread traveling ventures continued into the 2000’s, including trips to Asia, Africa and Antarctica. 

Until age 75, Ginny and her close Carlisle friends, many of whom took up tennis in their 40’s, committed to playing doubles tennis, two times a week for several decades. Over the last 50 years, she watched a lot of basketball, which continued through her last days at the hospital. She would often say she liked basketball because it was fast! In addition, Ginny was an avid bridge player, who played in various groups, including a longstanding weekly foursome until 2020. Interestingly, as her mind was showing obvious signs of aging, she remained very clever at the complex card game. 

Ginny treasured her strong network of close friends from childhood, as well as ones that she made during college and in her marriage. In recent years, she cherished her time with family most, whether it be to go out to dinner, celebrate holidays and birthdays, or making the annual family trip to Arizona for the last 34 years, which amazingly, she was planning to attend again this May. Her family affectionately referred to her as “Grammy” and will hold close to their hearts her infectious laugh, sharp wit, and easy-going spirit. 

Ginny’s family would also like to extend their deepest gratitude to Cheryl, Lisa, Brandy, Amanda, Kris, Amy, and Missy…her loving and joyful caregiving family.

Ginny is survived by her son, Robert E. Rahal (wife Jill) of Mechanicsburg, PA; daughter Susan R. Stiltner of Carlisle, PA; three grandchildren, Chelsea A. Rahal, Holly C. Stiltner and Nicholas M. Stiltner. She is preceded in death by her husband, N. David Rahal and her son-in-law, Michael R. Stiltner. 

A casual cocktail reception to honor Ginny will take place at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 15th, at the Carlisle Country Club. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Cumberland County Historical Society, 21 N. Pitt Street, Carlisle, PA 17013.