
Virginia "Ginny" Sorley
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Virginia "Ginny" Sorley, longtime resident of Potomac, MD, died Friday, February 2, 2024, at Chapel Point, Carlisle, PA. Born in Brooklyn, NY, the eldest daughter of the late Alexander Mezey and Margaret Sullivan, she grew up in Manhasset, NY, then attended DePauw University for two years, joining Alpha Phi sorority, and subsequently graduated from the University of Maryland. Later, she earned a Master of Library Science degree from Long Island University.
In 1956, Ginny married Richard Becker, a West Point graduate. Together they had sons Doug and Tim and a daughter, Susan. In 1965, Dick died of cancer, leaving Ginny a young widow with three small children. In 1970, she married Lewis "Bob" Sorley, another West Pointer, and a long-time friend. With their amalgamated family, including Bob's daughter, Kathy from an earlier marriage plus their dog and cat, they moved to Germany, where Bob commanded a tank battalion. This was a very happy time. When Bob and his unit were in the field, Ginny took the kids skiing in Austria and so on.
Back in the United States, the family lived at Carlisle Barracks in Pennsylvania for three years, then moved to the Washinton area. In 1976, they bought a wonderful house in Potomac, where they resided for the next 42 years. Ginny soon went to work as a CIA librarian, a job she loved and in which she excelled, devoting over two decades to public service.
Ginny was a talented gardener, creating a beautiful deck garden that the hungry deer could not reach, and a splendid cook. She treasured her many friends, especially those in her book club. She was for several years a docent at the Smithsonian's Museum of American History and a long-time stalwart of Friends of the Potomac Library.
In Germany the family had enjoyed the sport of volksmarching, which Ginny and Bob continued back in America, eventually doing at least one walk in every one of the fifty states. Ginny was very fit, an excellent lap swimmer and tennis player along with the skiing and hiking. She loved music, dancing, books, travel, summer family visits to the Outer Banks, and the color red.
In early 2019, Ginny and Bob moved to Cumberland Crossings, a retirement community in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
Ginny is survived by her husband, "Bob" Sorley; her children, Douglas Becker, Timothy Becker, and Susan Merritt; her sister, Alexandra Mezey Stites; and brother, Gregory Fitzgerald; and four grandchildren. Her sister Beth Chamberlin predeceased Ginny.
Burial will take place at the West Point Cemetery at a later date.
