Virginia A Stone

Virginia Ann was born in 1931 in Detroit, Michigan to Iva and Charles Nemeth. She attended Southeastern High School during which time she was a synchronized swimmer and performance accordionist. She attended Wayne State University for one year where she met James (Jim) Stone to whom she unknowingly grew up only 3 blocks away. Jim worked at the neighborhood butcher shop and Virginia worked at the neighborhood laundry. She left school in 1951 so that they could marry.

Around that time, Jim entered the Army. In 1952 Virginia remained in Detroit to give birth to their daughter, Kristine, while Jim was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. They were soon transferred to Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to where they drove from Detroit with an airstream trailer in tow. Upon arriving in Colorado Springs, Jim was quarantined on the base, leaving Virginia to fend for herself and the baby for 3 weeks. After 2 ½ years, Virginia and Jim moved to Denver, where they bought a house that was, at the time, on the southwest outskirts of the city. The first of many family events in their new home was the birth of their son, Charles (Chuck).

While raising her children, Virginia worked as a bookkeeper and also volunteered with the PTA, Girl Scouts, and Boy Scouts. She was very involved with Kris’ music lessons and Chuck’s Gold Sash Band. She and Jim enjoyed bowling and playing Bridge, Pinochle, board games, and golf. After her children left home, Virginia actively gave her time and talents to many people including volunteering at More-For-Less and riding the bus with her good friend to clean for people in need. Additionally, she and Jim assisted people with transportation needs to Glennon Heights Mennonite Church, where she and Jim were members since about 1968. As a member of the church, she most enjoyed quilting with the other ladies of the congregation and participating in her care group. She also volunteered in the church library and kitchen. She was often cooking for many people in need of meals. Virginia enjoyed community theater, musical events, and local festivals. Family and friends would join her doing jigsaw puzzles of which there was always one under construction on the dining room table.

Virginia passed away peacefully on October 8, 2022. The house she and Jim purchased when first arriving in Denver in 1955 became a home with a lifetime of memories filled with three generations of children. At the end, she was surrounded by family, friends, and by those who adopted her as “Grandma”. She is preceded in death by her husband Jim and son Chuck Stone. She is survived by her daughter Kris Fabrello-Patterson; daughter-in-law Judy Stone; granddaughters Shaunna Walewski, Anne Streufert, and Jennifer Patterson; great-grandchildren Rebecca, Andrew, and Erika Walewski, Katarina and Gwenevere Patterson, and Nebyu and Fikur Streufert.