A native a Northeast Portland, Virginia was born in 1922 to Clarence and Mamie Lake and grew up on Northeast Going Street. Her parents worked for Meier and Frank in downtown Portland. She was home-schooled and developed a keen sense of culture, morality, and verbal wit. Virginia had a brother Carl, who died in 1987, and his wife Doris Lake (94) who lives in Utah. She married Andrew Bringdale, who passed away suddenly in 1964. They had a daughter Patricia who died in 2014. Virginia worked at Stenno Carbon Co. for 36 years first making typewriter ribbons and then teletype rolls for the government during the Viet Nam era. She later worked in the sheeting department cutting and wrapping sheet carbon. Virginia became companions with Paul Spivey and had many adventures hunting, fishing cruises, and road trips to Alaska and California. He passed in 2013. She was involved with Camp Fire Girls for many years with Patty. She was an excellent seamstress and made most of her daughter's clothes. She was known for her cooking skills with the best potato salad and birthday cakes.
In August Virginia celebrated with neighbors as she turned 97 years old and living in her Northeast 19th home for 75 years. She died at home October 23 surrounded by loved ones. She was a grandmother and an aunt including being “mom” to Paul's children and grandchildren.