Leland "Lee" John Virag

Lee studied hard and eventually graduated from Richmond Union High School in February of 1945. After high school, he was drafted into the United States Army in the Infantry Division and was later commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. Lee spent time in the Army during the occupation of Zama, Japan, and Independence Day was always extra special to him, as he was discharged from the Army on July 4th, 1947. The summers of 1943, 1944, 1948, and 1949 were also memorable for Lee, since he spent them working in the Sierra Nevada's for the United States Forest Service.

Lee earned his AA degree after attending San Francisco and San Mateo Junior Colleges. He then received a BS degree in Agricultural Economics in February of 1952 from the University of Nevada. Lee was very involved during his college years and is also a lifetime member of the Theta Chi Fraternity.

He was hired as a Processed Fruits and Vegetables Inspector by the Processed Products Inspection branch of the United States Department of Agriculture and worked throughout Northern California and in Oregon, working mostly in food processing plants, laboratories, and other areas where food is inspected and handled. He later transferred to Fresno in 1966 and became involved with Federal Marketing Orders, working all the way up until he retired as the Officer in Charge on December 31, 1988.

On March 14, 1954, Lee and his loving wife, Virginia Lee Fuhrmann, were married in San Carlos, California. Together they raised three children and started a large and loving family.

Lee enjoyed camping, fishing, and trailering with family and friends during summer. In the winter, he enjoyed skiing, ice skating, and hosting at the California Alpine Club Lodge in Echo Summit, California. He also square danced for years before taking up ballroom dancing, and Lee was a proud member of the Los Amigos and Assembly Ballroom Dancing Clubs.

In his retirement, Lee lived to help others. He tutored 2nd and 3rd graders, drove cancer patients to their appointments, and donated blood, plasma, and platelets at the blood bank for many years. He enjoyed playing cards, especially poker, and he looked forward to a dry martini on a Friday evening. Lee liked situations that involved people and social interactions. The truth was also important to Lee in himself, his family, and his friends.

Lee is survived by his wife of 71 years, Virginia Lee Virag, their one daughter and two sons and their spouses, as well as their 4 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

Leland's family would like to extend their most sincere thanks to everyone who has reached out to offer their love and support during this difficult time.