Virginia Vivian Rutherford

Virginia Vivian Good Rutherford, age 91, went to be with her Heavenly Father on Monday, April 20th, 2015 with her daughters at her bedside. Virginia was born on August 21st, 1923 in LaGrande, Oregon to Grover Raymond and Jessie Vivian Baker Good. Her family, were Oregon pioneers with roots going back to the Oregon Trail. After her family left their farm in LaGrande they lived in Portland, Oregon and Kelso, Washington before settling in Yakima. Virginia attended Madison Grade School, Washington Junior High and graduated with honors from Yakima High School Class of 1940 1/2. She was the first high school graduate of her family.

Virginia's eldest sister, Bessie, married Allen Grissom, who had a mischievous eleven year old nephew named Jack Rutherford. Virginia, a cute ten year old and Jack took a fancy each other and nine years later they embarked on a marriage that endured sixty-six years. Although the Goods had little in material possessions their home was full of love and Jack was welcomed into the family with the same love as his Uncle Allen.

During WWII Jack was a B-17 pilot in the US Army Air Corps and was stationed in many areas of the country. Virginia was able to live with him in many of these areas and this established their love of travel. After the war Jack and Virginia returned to the family farm and lived next door to Allen and Bessie on Rutherford Road. As a young homemaker Virginia worked in the hop yards twining sled and drove the caterpillar tractor pulling the hop picking machine. She took care of the books and was always able to make a quick trip to the Moxee City Warehouse or a parts department for whatever Jack needed. Virginia also worked for the Ormistion and Borton fruit warehouses and was an accomplished apple packer.

In 1960 Virginia enrolled in Yakima Valley Junior College, graduating with honors, and then commuted to Central Washington State College graduating with honors with a Degree in Education. She was the first college graduate in her family. She taught English and Psychology, she very much

enjoyed teaching and was much liked by her students. Virginia accepted Jesus Christ into her heart as her Lord and Savior in the early 1950's and was a faithful member of Ahtanum Pioneer Church where she enjoyed teaching Bible school and Sunday school especially with the little ones. She also spent many enjoyable hours at the Union Gospel Mission stuffing envelopes.

Jack and Virginia were known for their hospitality and opened their home to many Bible Study’s, social functions, and overnight guests. They were also avid pinochle players both hosting and attending parties. They loved to travel and toured Europe, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico and took cruises down the US Eastern Seaboard, Alaska, and celebrated their 50th anniversary with a cruise through the Panama Canal. They traveled to many parts of the United States but their favorited destination was Hawaii which they visited many times. They also traveled through the Orient on a hop marketing trip which was a wonderful experience.

Jack and Virginia enjoyed many summers at their cabin at Rainbow Beach on Twin Lakes. Their grandchildren spend many summers there as well as a trip to Hawaii with them. Virginia's grandchildren and great-grandsons were the lights of her life and everyone who knew her was treated to most recent photos.

Jack and Virginia resided on Euclid Avenue in Grandview for several years while raising hops and delicious grapes, and had many friends there. When they returned to Yakima they lived on Douglas Drive and loved that wonderful neighborhood as well.

Virginia is survived by daughters Janet and husband Ron Johnson of Selah and Pamela Rutherford of Yakima, grandson Todd Clark of Kalispell, MT, granddaughter Laurel Allington Wertenberger, and great-grandsons Ahren Clark, Ryan Wertenberger, and Jacob Wertenberger of Yakima, brothers Richard Good and wife Nadene of Edmonds, and Grover Good and wife Diana of Marysville, and 19 nephews and 13 nieces.

Virginia was preceded in death by her beloved husband Jack, son Ronald James Rutherford, her parents, sisters and brothers-in-law Bessie and Allen Grissom, Helen and Dale Lane, Margaret and Ray Rider and brother Virgil, and wives Dorothy and Kathy Good, and nephews Allen Keith Grissom

and Fred Dean Rutherford. God could not have provided a better wife for our father or mother for us. We love you Mom and know we will be together in God's time. Well done God's good and faithful servant.

Viewing will be from 4 to 8 PM Friday, May 1, 2015 at Keith & Keith Ninth Avenue in Yakima.

The funeral will be at 10:00 AM Saturday, May 2nd at Ahtanum Pioneer Church in Yakima with concluding services at West Hills Memorial Park.

To share a memory of Virginia, visit www.keithandkeith.com .

Those wishing to honor her memory make contribute to Ahtanum Pioneer Church, Union Gospel Mission or Riverside Christian School c/o Keith and Keith Funeral Home.