Virginia Richter, daughter of Waldemar Lawrence (1895-1948) and Edith (Campbell) (1894-1974) Richter, was born 20 February 1926, Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan.  She graduated in 1944 from Okemos High School and married, 17 August 1946, Steuben County, Indiana, Claron Lee Howell.  Claron, two years younger than Virginia, had to have his father's permission signature on the marriage license.

Claron and Virginia were only married 6 days when....

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Monday 25 August 1947

Mrs. Virginia Howell, 21, Owosso, killed when the car driven by her husband crashed into a jeep at an intersection where the traffic light reportedly showed green on both sides.  Her husband, Claron, 19, was seriously injured.

(Mrs. Howell was a graduate of the Okemos high school and formerly lived near Lansing.)

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Monday 25 August 1947

RITES FOR ACCIDENT VICTIM TO BE HELD HERE TUESDAY

Funeral arrangements for Mrs. Virginia Howell, 21, former Lansing area resident who died Saturday from auto accident injuries, will be held from the Gorsline-Runciman funeral home at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.  Rev. Evan Surbrook of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ church will officiate, and burial will be in Evergreen cemetery.

She is survived by the husband, Claron; the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Waldemar Richter of R. 1, East Lansing, and two sisters, Mrs. Jean Brown, Kalamazoo and Arlene Richter, East Lansing.  She was a member of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ church, graduated from Okemos high school and also attended the Bible Holiness seminary at Owosso.

The Ludington Daily News (Ludington, Michigan) Monday 25 August 1947

Several Michigan papers carried the story of Virginia's death including; Battle Creek Enquirer (Battle Creek, Michigan) Monday 25 August 1947, Detroit Free Press (Detroit, Michigan) Monday 25 August 1947 and Traverse City Record-Daily (Traverse City, Michigan) Monday 25 August 1947.

Virginia died 23 August 1947, Owosso, Shiawassee County, Michigan.  She was interred Evergreen Cemetery, Lansing.  Virginia's parents too were interred within Evergreen Cemetery.

Claron, born 21 April 1928, Lima, Allen County, Ohio, went on to remarry twice more and had children.  He was employed as a carpenter.  Claron died 25 June 1997, Marion County, Ohio.