Virginia Ruth Rees

1922 – 2014

Virginia Palmer Rees (“Gege”) died peacefully at home, June 10, 2014. Gege was born December 6, 1922 in Salt Lake City to Ruth Mutch Palmer and Colonel Joseph W. Palmer. After graduating from East High School, she attended and graduated from the University of Utah with a major in Education and minor in Art. Throughout her college days, she affiliated with Pi Beta Phi where she made many life-long friends.

At the end of her university freshman year, Gege began dating Robert L. Rees (“Grumpy”), and they were married September 18, 1943. She affectionately stated, “My life began when I met Grumpy.” During Bob’s seven years of medical training, they lived in Chicago and Evanston, Illinois; Aurora, Colorado; and Iowa City, Iowa. She returned to Salt Lake City when Bob was shipped to Italy in the US Army Medical Corps. He joined her back in Salt Lake in 1950.

Employment in her early years included Makoff’s, Auerbach’s, United Airlines, and Mountain Bell in Salt Lake City; Wesleyan Hospital in Chicago; and Washington National Insurance Company in Evanston.

Volunteerism was an important part of Gege ’s life. She was a member of the Junior League of Salt Lake City. As a member of the Assistance League, she participated in their Thrift Shop and School Bell programs. In her earlier years, she volunteered for the Girl Scouts and YWCA organizations. Gege described herself as a lucky bridge player, an avid golfer, and a fair-to-middling tennis player, swimmer and bowler . However, her family will always remember her tap dancing in the kitchen. She was a collector of art, aficionado of crossword puzzles and Sudoku, and an expert at making fudge.

Over the years, Gege belonged to three investment clubs, culture club, sewing club, Saturday Night Dance Club, and three book clubs, including Darian. She belonged to the Town Club, Salt Lake Country Club, Salt Lake Tennis Club, and Fort Douglas Country Club. Gege loved the comfort and security of her townhome at Edgemont. She cherished all of her many friends.

Gege and Bob had three daughters and a son: Mary Ann Rees (Gordon Aitken), Margie Stewart (Sumner), Nina Norton, and Robert Palmer Rees. Their family has grown to include seven grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. She is survived by her sister Mary Ann Gardner ("Middy") and brother Joseph J. Palmer (Dorothy Ann).

Gege was preceded in death by her husband, Robert L. Rees, MD, with whom she was happily married for 67 years; brother-in-law James H. Gardner; and daughter-in-law Kathleen Rees. A private family celebration of Gege’s life will be held at Town Club. The family thanks Jennifer Demko and Community Nursing Services for their compassionate care of Gege. The family suggests donations be made for research at the John A. Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah, or the charity of your choice.