Center. She was born in Brighton, CO as the eldest child of German immigrants, Mollie Wolfe Smith and Andy Smith.
The family, who have all preceded her in death, Alvin, Kenneth and twins Donna and Donald, moved to Denver where Virginia graduated from North High School in 1948. She met her husband, Donald G Saunders, at a Halloween swing dance and married on June 4,1950.
She was a homemaker who greatly enjoyed watching baseball, playing golf and pinochle. Her hobbies included quilting and other arts and crafts and was a devoted member of Lutheran Church and School of Messiah. She previously lived in Denver, the San Fransico area, Chandler, AZ, Glenwood Springs and finally residing in Grand Junction since 1996.
She is survived by her son Dale (Nancy) of Albuquerque, NM and their daughter Kathryn
(Michael) Balogun of Denver and their daughter, Miah; and daughter, Doneen (Ron) Sawyer of Grand Junction and their daughter, Morgan Anderson and her daughters Kensley and Jaelyn of Grand Junction and their son Benjamin (Lauren) and their son Waylon of Elizabeth, CO. She is also survived by a sister-in-law, Clara Smith, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Services to be held at Lutheran Church and School of Messiah,840 N 11th Street, Grand Junction, on November 18, 2023 at 1:00 with a luncheon to follow at the church.
Donations can be made to Lutheran Church and School of Messiah or HopeWest Care Center.
