Published in Eureka [CA] Times Standard from Jan. 13 to Jan. 14, 2012

Virgie Irene (Hilburn) Sutro is at peace now. She passed peacefully in her sleep on Wednesday, January 11, 2012. She was 88 years of age, and was selflessly cared for by the kind and caring staff at Especially You, Eureka, during her last few years. Virgie was born in West Monroe, LA, June 23, 1923, the youngest daughter of Judson Alfred and Dolly Gertrude "Gertie" Hilburn. She graduated from Ouachita High School, Monroe, and attended Northeast Louisiana College. After college, she worked for the Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company in Monroe. Virgie was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, retired Lt. Colonel Wallace Roy Sutro, who died from heart failure in July 1995. They met in Monroe when Wallace was in navigator training with the Army Air Force at Selman Field, Monroe, LA. They were married in the Chapel at Langley Field, Hampton, VA on January 1, 1944. When Wallace completed his 50 bombing missions over Europe with the 495th Bomb Group and the "Fearless Fosdick" crew in 1944, they made plans to return to Eureka. They travelled with their first born infant daughter, Patricia Ann, by train to their new home in Eureka, California, in the county where Wallace was born and raised. Their second child, a son Leroy Wayne, was born with a defective heart, and had to be cared for until he was 5 years old and qualified for heart surgery at Children's Hospital in San Francisco. When Korean War broke out, Wallace was called back to military service and was assigned to Hunter Air Base in Savannah, Georgia. They lived in Georgia for 2 years, after staying a few months in Monroe with Virgie's sister, Sybil Haney and her family, where their third child, Sandra Gail, was born. Donna Kay was born after they settled back in Eureka and moved only once to a larger home for the growing family. Virgie lived the rest of her life in Eureka, adjusting to the California culture, making few trips back "home" to visit her family in Louisiana, and raising 4 children. In those days, travel to Louisiana was a several-day trip in a car without air conditioning, and few roadside services. Virgie never learned to drive until Patricia learned to drive, saying, "If she can learn to drive, I can too". Being able to drive gave her the freedom to seek work outside the home, with her children nearly grown. She worked for Kenneth and Marion Geiger at their Jan's Cake Box bakery in Henderson Center, doing whatever had to be done, except baking or decorating cakes. She was active in Eagles Lodge, Pocohantas Lodge at the time Wallace was active in Redman Lodge, and was an avid bowler, winning team championships with her girl friends. She learned to crochet from her mother and became quite the expert. She loved playing Pinnocle card games with friends. She could always be found working with her plants in her back yard. She loved her flowers and prided herself in starting her plants from "stolen" clippings. Virgie is survived by her brother-in-law, Irvin G. Sutro of Bayside. CA. Irvin always took time to visit with her. She will be missed by her three daughters and their husbands, Patricia of San Diego, Sandy and Bob of Lakeport, CA, and Donna and Joel of Eel Rock, CA., and by her son Leroy and his wife Eleanor of Anderson, CA. Her grandchildren will miss their loving Grandma. They are Jason and his wife, Christy, currently living in Scarborough, Australia, Kevin of Ramona, CA, Bryan of Rancho Cordova, CA, Ryan and his wife Mollie of Sacramento, CA, and Elizabeth of Chico, CA. She leaves step-grandchildren, Bud, Paul and Chuck of Oklahoma City. Her great-grandchildren, Jessica Jean, Alyssa Kay, and Jonathan Christopher, now living in Scarborough, Australia, will miss their Great-Grandma dearly. She leaves nephew Douglas of Sebastopol, CA, several great-grandchildren in Oklahoma, and numerous nieces and nephews in Louisiana. She was preceded in death by grandson Troy Daniel Brazil, Fortuna, and by step-granddaughter Jackie Miller of Oklahoma City. A graveside memorial service will be held on Sunday, January 15th at 11:30pm at Ocean View Cemetery, at the Veteran's Gardens. The family requests donations to the Hospice of Humboldt, and appreciate all their kind support to Virgie in her final days. We cannot thank the Especially You staff enough for their kind and caring support to Virgie. Hospice of Humboldt 2010 Myrtle Avenue Eureka, CA 95501 (hospiceofhumboldt.org)
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Source:
Eureka Times Standard, Eureka, Humboldt County, CA