Virginia Lee Bruns

Mom was a connecter- she worked the room at parties like a diplomat – introducing people who she connected by some common thread that she had already identified in both. She loved her PEO and the many friends she gathered around the country – Michigan, California, Arizonia and in Colorado, where she met friends in high school, college and later during her professional career.

Virginia was born in the small town of Alvo, Nebraska on November 28, 1927, to Edgard “Eddie” Edwards and Carrie Edwards. She grew up surrounded by aunts, uncles and grandparents. Three and a half years later, she became an older sister with the arrival of her brother Allan. She and Allan remained close throughout their lives. Mom fondly remembered taking care of Allan, who in his childhood was in and out of the hospital with ailments that he later outgrew.

Her father Eddie accepted a position at the Denver Federal Center and the family moved from Alvo to Lakewood, CO. Virginia, known as “Ginger” to her childhood friends and as “Ginny” to friends she made as an adult, thrived. Virginia excelled in school and was heavily influenced by her mother, who had been a schoolteacher in a one room schoolhouse in Guymon, Oklahoma before marrying Eddie. With her outgoing and lively personality and stunning good looks, she attracted a wide circle of friends in high school, college, and beyond. She maintained these friendships throughout her life.

While attending Lakewood High, Mom caught the eye of Judd Bruns, a fellow student who was known for riding his horse to school every day. They began to date as World War II loomed, occasionally joining their friends for skiing at Winter Park, the city of Denver’s park in the mountains. Mom remembers being in the only car in the parking lot at Winter Park on V-E Day, the day the Allies were victorious in Europe.

Virginia attended University of Colorado, where she studied hard and pledged Alpha Chi Omega. She graduated with a chemistry degree in 1949. After marrying, Judd accepted a position with Ford Motor Company and the couple moved to Seattle. While in Seattle mom worked in a chemistry lab on the University of Washington campus.

After a year, with the coming Korean War, Ford laid off all its new employees, and though Judd was offered a job at Boeing, they decided to return to Colorado.

The first of Viginia and Judd’s four boys, Jeff, was born in Denver in 1951. Judd accepted a new job with Ryder Leasing and moved to southern California, where Jay was born in Hollywood in 1954. Followed by Chris who was born in Orange, CA in 1955. Judd was transferred to San Francisco and Kirk was born in Redwood City in 1962. Mom had her hands full as a stay-at-home mother with four young boys and a husband who traveled often. Her boys remember wonderful Christmas holidays, visits from grandparents, and ski trips to the Sierras with Virginia and Judd’s large circle of friends. We boys remember that this is when Virginia and Judd started to escape from time to time to the local golf course. Golf would become a lifelong activity that they enjoyed together – Mom played into her eighties.

In 1964 Judd accepted a position with Chrysler Corporation and the family relocated from San Francisco to Detroit. Virginia enjoyed her time living in Michigan where she established lifelong friendships with neighbors’, Judd’s co-workers, and members of the community.

In 1969 Judd transferred back home to Denver. Judd and Virginia were reunited with friends from their youth, and closer to family. Virginia set her indomitable social skills in motion. She stepped up her bridge skills and hosted many bridge parties. She responded to a community need to help women by volunteering at the League of Women Voters, and later at the Virginial Neal Blue Center, helping women who faced difficulties. This led to a greater interest in politics and a position for many years in the Colorado State Senate.

She also helped Judd transition from corporate life to establishing his successful small business in leasing. When it came time to retire, she and Judd split their time between Denver and their second home in Rio Verde, Arizona.

Judd became ill and passed away in 2001. Virginia demonstrated her mettle by setting a new direction in her new life. She took the initiative to move to Bateleur a year later, where she became very involved in the community’s social activities. She lived the remainder of her life in her Bateleur home for nearly 24 years

Virginia loved hosting and attending parties. A family friend, Bill Allison, shared the same social interests, and the two hosted and attended many social gatherings until Bill’s passing in 2022.

Mom was able to attend the wedding of her granddaughter, and her namesake, Ginger to Riley Craig at Red Rocks in 2022.

Virginia reveled in spending time with her four boys and her three daughters-in-law, Robin, Katherine and Stacie. She loved watching the growth of her three grandchildren, Timothy (Morgan), Lucas (Cat) and Ginger (Riley) Virginia welcomed two great grandchildren, Oscar in 2025 and Phoebe in 2026. In the circle of life, this is just the way it should be. Her legacy of inclusive warmth, intellect, and grace lives on in all who knew her.

Jeff, Jay, Chris and Kirk