Virginia Lavender

Virginia Lavender of Bremerton, WA passed away on January 2, 2013 at Claremont Senior Living being just 11 days shy of her 86th birthday. Born in Boise, ID, Virginia moved to Bremerton with her family during WW II. As many who came to work in the shipyard, they found housing in short supply and lived in a tent for quite some time, eventually moving to a cabin in Silverdale.

Virginia and her stepsisters and stepbrothers grew into young adults in that cabin and, after graduating from Central Kitsap High, she attended Beauty School where she met her lifelong friend and future sister-in-law, Hazel (George's sister). George and Virginia were married in the cabin on September 5, 1947 and honeymooned in Hollywood. She was the bookkeeper for their business (George's Chevron in Silverdale) for years. For fun, they square-danced, attended plays at the Bremerton Community Theatre, and were always going to movies.

They traveled extensively by car, cruise ships and airlines, from Branson, Missouri to Hawaii to Russia and much more. She also enjoyed collecting dolls and staying active, walking the mall to keep fit.

Virginia is preceded in death by her husband George in 1999; sister, Lois and brother, Robert, but her memory will live on with her sister, Vyonda Riddle of Mountain Home, ID, her children, Curt (Laina) of Port Orchard, WA, Criss Perez (Abel) of Bremerton, WA and Scott (Lauri) of Bremerton, WA; grandchildren, Bobbie, Craig, Ryan, Reuben, John and Rachael; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Public visitation for Virginia will be held at Lewis Funeral Chapel on Wednesday, January 9th from 12:00pm-1:00pm with a funeral service beginning at 1:00pm. Interment will be at Forest Lawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make any memorial donations to Alzheimer's Association North Tower, 100 W. Harrison St, N200 Seattle, WA 98119-4170.