Virginia Bott

Virginia Lee Bott, 83, was welcomed into heaven on March 16, 2022 surrounded by family and friends. She was born on December 1, 1938 in Pinckneyville, Illinois, the daughter of Lyle and Marie Hicks of Morton, Illinois. Virginia obtained three degrees from Bradley University: BA in Education, MA in Education and MA in Administration. Virginia taught in Peoria School District 150 for 32 years in elementary education. She was very proud of the lives she touched over the years.

Virginia married Frank Rohman and had two children. She then married Walter Poppen and together they had a daughter and raised all three children in Peoria, Illinois. The family-owned horses and ponies and enjoyed horseback riding. The family often participated in Peoria parades with the horses, ponies and covered wagon. Virginia loved tennis and dancing in her younger years. On Friday nights, the family always gathered at Virginias’ parent’s home for activities. Many years after Walter Poppen passed away Virginia married Dr. Andrew Bott. Together they loved gardening, traveling and golfing. Virginia was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church of Peoria. She moved to Katy, Texas, a year and half ago to be closer to family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Bob Hicks, and husbands. Of all of her accomplishments, she was most proud of her three children. She is survived by Barbara Hansen, Sugar Land, Texas; Michael (Cynthia) Rohman, Prosperity, South Carolina; Constance (David) Baruch, Weston, FL. Five grandchildren and six great grandchildren: Roy (Stacy and Addy) Leopold, Houston, Texas; Paul (Tara, Maggie, James and Phillip) Leopold, Haslet, Texas; Daniel (Mary Allen and Eleanor) Rohman, Irmo, South Carolina; Kyle (Courtney and Crawford) Rohman, Lexington, South Carolina; and Olivia Baruch, New York, New York; and three nieces and their families. She was also blessed with two step-daughters, Robbie (Rick) Reed, Bowling Green, Kentucky; Shirley (Jeff) O’Neill, Marietta, Georgia. The family would like to thank all of Virginia’s health care providers at The Methodist Hospital, Sugar Land, TX, the staff of Silverado Hospice and Osa Heritage Home. We would also like to thank her friends in Illinois and Texas for their prayers, phone calls and visits.

A celebration of life service will be held at First Baptist Church, Peoria on March 26, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. with a visitation one hour prior to the service. On line service will be streamed on Facebook and You Tube. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Peoria, Ministry Residency Program.

Knapp-Johnson Funeral Home and Cremation Center is assisting the family with arrangements.