Virginia Ruth Young

She was born in Moravia, Iowa, on April 29, 1922. Her parents were Pearl McCumber Stanley and Burl Russell Stanley. She joined her 12-year-old brother, Arthur, to complete the family.

After she completed first grade in Moravia, her family moved west to Nampa, Idaho, where she became a member of the First Christian Church of Nampa. She attended Nampa public schools and graduated from Nampa High School in 1939. She continued her education at Boise Business College the following year. She later attended Northwest Christian College, where she met her future husband.

On September 4, 1942, she married Harrie Stancliff Young in the Northwest Christian College Chapel while Harrie was preparing for the ministry. They celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary in September of this year. Together, they served churches in Vale, Oregon; Attica, Cimmaron, and Kinsley, Kansas; French Lick, Indiana; Syracuse and Niagara Falls, New York; Glendale, Arizona; Buhl, Idaho; and Sidney, Nebraska. They had three sons: Stanley, Richard, and Robert.

In addition to her being a pastor’s wife, Virginia worked a variety of jobs to supplement the family income. Her sons’ earliest memory of her work was giving elocution lessons in their home, where she taught her students to read with expression and to enunciate correctly. She used her own speaking skills to narrate fashion shows at the Sheraton Hotel in French Lick, Indiana. She later re-entered the work force as a secretary, working at such places as Syracuse University, Niagara Falls School District audiovisual department, an environmental office in Twin Falls, and as a library assistant at George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon.

Her love of singing was a strong contribution to many church choirs, and her solos brought many compliments. Her son Richard enjoyed singing duets with her as well as accompanying her on piano for a few of her solos. She also enjoyed knitting and reading.

She was preceded in death by her twin sisters, Lola and Lois; her parents, Pearl and Burl; her brother, Arthur; and her grandson Seth. She is survived by her husband, Harrie; her sons, Stanley, Richard, and Robert; her daughters-in-law, Jo, KK, and Penney; her grandchildren, Tim, Philip, and Erin; her great-grandchildren, Seth and Kesten; and many nieces and nephews.

Arrangements under the direction of Greenwood Funeral Home, Renton, WA.