| Notes |
Died:
- Virginia Rae Hoffelt, longtime Oak Harbor resident, died Saturday morning, Dec. 1, 2012, at home with her daughters by her side.
Born July 23, 1922 in Williston, N.D. to Raymond and Mildred Milner, "Ginny Rae" was the eldest of four children. She graduated from Williston High School in 1940 and received a Registered Nurse degree from the Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in 1943.
Virginia was still a student nurse at Mercy Hospital in 1942 when she met John Hoffelt, a U.S. Navy sailor on shore leave who was in Williston to visit a shipmate's sister. They began exchanging letters and were married 18 months later in Sidney, Mont. The couple lived in Miami, Jacksonville, Corpus Christi, Honolulu and Pensacola before 1953, when the Navy transferred Chief Petty Officer Hoffelt to Whidbey Island, which became their permanent home.
Their 68-year marriage exemplified the meaning of love and devotion.
In addition to raising her children and helping manage the family business, Virginia was a part of the St. Augustine parish community, a Bluebird group leader, Camp Kirby nurse and a member of the Oak Harbor Emblem Club #450. An avid golfer, she was one of the first to join the Whidbey Golf and
Country Club and cherished her home on the course with its view of the fairways. For many years, she and John escaped the Pacific Northwest's winter weather by heading south to their second home in Sun City, Ariz.
At 90, Virginia was thriving independently, still driving, traveling and staying current ? she enjoyed texting with her grandchildren on her iPhone ? when she suddenly became ill in late October and was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. After a brief hospitalization, she returned home to be cared for ?round the clock by her daughters, with help and guidance from Hospice of the Northwest.
She is missed by so many.
Virginia is survived by her husband, John; brother Raymond Milner, Jr. of Roswell, N.M.; brother-in-law John Farmer of Houston and her five daughters and their husbands: Susan Waller (Mike) of Oak Harbor; Mary Rothschild (Ross Anderson) of Port Townsend; Margaret Foss (Robert) of Oregon City, Ore.; Marjorie Crossley (James) of Vancouver; and Sandra Hoffelt Olson (Mike) of Langley.
Also surviving are grandchildren Jeff Waller, Victoria McColl, Kate Choiniere, Emily Olson, Sarah Olson and step-grandson Colin Anderson, as well as great grandchildren Matthew and Aiden and step-great grandchildren Mahal and Malaya. Several of Virginia's nieces and nephews thought of "Aunt Geeg" as their second Mom.
She was preceded in death by her parents, brother William Milner, sister Patricia Farmer and granddaughter Elizabeth.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated 9 a.m. Friday, Dec. 21 at St. Augustine Catholic Church, Oak Harbor with Rev. Philip Raether as Celebrant, followed by a Celebration of Life at Wallin Funeral Home. Friends and family are encouraged to offer condolences and share memories via the memory book hosted by Wallin Funeral Home at www.wallinfuneralhome.com
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1922 - 2012 (90 years)
