Virginia B Carlson

Virginia Bell (Simgen) Carlson died peacefully at her home in Costa Mesa on July 24th, 2011 at the age of 91. She is survived by her husband, Kenneth Ellis, to whom she was married for 70 years; her daughters, Barbara Carlson, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Betsy Jean Carlson, Palm Springs, Ca. and Betsy’s sons, Tobias Mitchell Frye of Sacramento and Adam John Fomotor of Newport Beach, CA.

Virginia was a native Californian, born in Gardena, CA. where her first words were, “I help you!” at the age of three, and lived within walking distance of the public library and was a great reader all her life. Her mother died when she was 13 and shortly thereafter started keeping house for her brother Bob, and her father Otto Simgen.

After High School, she went to Frank Wiggins Trade School in L.A. to study fashion design and dressmaking where she once worked on a dress for Howard Hughes’ girlfriend. When Ken joined the Service in 1943, they moved to New Orleans, LA and Mobile, AL with their daughter, Barbara, born on their second anniversary, October 4, 1942. When the war ended, they moved back to Burbank and then lived in La Crescenta, where she helped design the first of 8 homes and additions. Betsy was born on Virginia’s and Ken’s mothers’ birthdays, July 26, 1948. Virginia made clothes for both girls with all of her talents for dressmaking. In the Fifties, Virginia worked as a church secretary at the LA Crescenta First Baptist Church.

Fifty-two years ago the family moved to Costa Mesa. Virginia drove a school bus for the Unified School District for 13 years with a perfect driving record. For 10 years, she made thousands of bonnets for Knott’s Berry Farm while they lived in Big Bear. She took up bird-watching and joined the Historical Society. She also collected wool coats and made beautiful braided rugs out of them.

In the 80’s they joined St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church and she was a “Flower Girl” for years taking flowers to the nursing homes in the area. For decades, she volunteered to send sermons for shut-ins, make sandwiches for the homeless and helped organize the domestic housewares section for the Annual Rummage Sale at the church.

She was a generous mother, grandmother and enduring wife.

Not generally a philosophical person, she surprised us by repeating emphatically, 30-40 times, “Be Thankful!” as her last words. She was a great blessing to everyone who knew her. Her daughters very much appreciated the help given to her by Vitas Hospice Care during her final days at home.

Services will be held Friday, August 5th 2011 at the Pacific View Mortuary at 2 P.M. at 3500 Pacific View Drive, Corona del Mar, Ca.

Arrangements under the direction of Pacific View Memorial Park and Mortuary FD1176, Corona Del Mar, CA.