Virginia Ann Phillips

Virginia “Ginger” Ann Phillips, age 88, of Lakewood, Colorado passed away on August 1, 2024. She was born in Greeley, Colorado to Kenneth D. and Anna M. (Clark) Phillips. Virginia lived in Sterling until her family moved to Denver. She graduated from Denver South High School and the University of Colorado. Virginia was an elementary school teacher with Jefferson County School District until retirement in 1991. She enjoyed teaching science and incorporated her creativity and love of animals in lessons. After retirement, Virginia volunteered by sharing her knowledge, teaching, and artistic skills with organizations including the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, Denver Museum of Nature and Science, National Western Stock Show, and Downtown Aquarium, as well as other events around Colorado. She enjoyed caring for numerous pets including dogs, horses, a Vietnamese pot belly pig, cats, birds, and tarantula, and was especially proud of her show ribbon-earning golden retrievers. Virginia traveled extensively to Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Zambia, Madagascar, South Africa, Papua New Guinea, Costa Rica, Cuba, Belize, and Hawaii. She sang in her church choir and in Colorado Symphony Orchestra’s Too Hot to Handel community choir. Virginia was also a Colorado Rockies baseball fan. Virginia is survived by sister-in-law Judy, niece Kay, nephews Steven (Nichole), Evan (Elizabeth), and grandnephew Derek. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Stan Phillips, and sister Ardis Miller. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on October 5, 2024 at Wheat Ridge Presbyterian Church, 9180 W 38th Ave, Wheat Ridge. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance (denverzoo.org/support/memorial) or Wild Animal Sanctuary (wildanimalsanctuary.org/donate).