Hislop, Ginnie Prov, UT Obituary: Honoring "Grandma Ginny's Life and Legacy," Loved Ones Weep

 On August 26, 2025, Virginia Sharon Hislop (Kite), who everyone loved and referred to as "Grandma Ginny," departed quietly after more than 90 incredible years of a life full of love, service, and family dedication. Generations of children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and friends will remember her and be motivated by her remarkable example for years to come.

Ginny was born to her devoted parents, Bill and Sally Kite, in Colorado during the Great Depression. She grew up with her sister Nancy, teaching her the value of family and resiliency, traits that would guide her throughout her life. She would meet her soulmate, Lt. Col. Sherm Hislop, a young widower with two kids, Jeanna and Steve, in Boulder, Colorado.

Their romance was infamously short, and after their second date, family members joked that they were engaged. The couple's marriage, which would last for more than 50 years, was subsequently sealed in the LDS Temple in Logan, Utah.

Christine, Carolyne, Henry, and Julie are the four more children that Ginny and Sherm added to their blended family. They frequently moved and experienced life in various parts of the United States due to Sherm's work. Nevertheless, Ginny made their house cozy, filled with literature and affection, wherever they lived. She was a passionate reader, a fan of Broadway productions, an accomplished gardener, and the kind of person who always found happiness in the little things.

Ginny and Sherm "semi-retired" to Provo, Utah, in the late 1980s. Ginny understood that the relocation was about being nearer to what really mattered—family—even though Sherm joked that it was to be nearer to BYU football. Their house soon became the center of family get-togethers, with Sunday dinners becoming customary and the laughing of the grandchildren filling the halls.

Ginny took up the role of "Grandma" with unparalleled zeal. She volunteered at the Missionary Training Center, where she discovered methods to sneak her grandsons extra care packages before they went into the mission field, started Christmas shopping in July, and lavished her grandchildren with presents. Her generosity, however, went much beyond her immediate family. Any young missionary in need was taken under her wing, and she frequently provided them with warm meals, clothing, or encouragement before sending them off.

Her own VHS collection of "clean" family films, which she freely distributed to kids in the neighborhood, will live on in the memories of her neighbors. She was given the loving moniker "Grandma Blockbuster" as a result. She treated everyone as though they were members of her family, embodying the spirit of inclusivity.

Ginny discovered an even bigger source of happiness as the years passed: her great-grandchildren. She was affectionately referred to as the “Baby Whisperer,” had a unique talent for soothing wailing infants, and compiled lists of suitable books to help them develop her lifelong love of reading. She quickly became tech savvy, learning how to use Instagram, FaceTime, and SMS in order to keep in touch with all of her children and grandchildren.

There was no denying Ginny's talent at providing care. She never ceased looking for ways to help people, even as she grew older. She continued to be a reliable source of support and care, delivering meals, taking elderly neighbors to appointments, and offering company. To make sure she could be there for her parents and sister at all times, she and Sherm even constructed a house close to them.

Her husband, three children, parents, a son-in-law, a daughter-in-law, and a great-granddaughter all passed away before Ginny, who is now happily reunited with them. Sherm, her spouse of more than 50 years, will be buried beside her in Huntsville Cemetery.

There will not be any official funeral services, per Ginny's wish. Her family asks anyone who wants to pay tribute to her to do a small deed of kindness in her honor instead of sending flowers. Above all, this is how she would like to be remembered: by continuing the acts of kindness, love, and generosity that she freely displayed while she was alive.