Virginia Read Seltzer

Virginia Read Ellison Seltzer was born in Washington, DC to Olive Gunning Ellison and Redner Ellison. She grew up an only child in a small, depression-era house in McLean, Virginia, along with her grandparents, Anne and John Gunning. Anne and John were originally from England and brought their two daughters, Olive and Gladys, to settle in the United States. Ginny’s beloved grandfather, John Gunning, was her greatest companion, teaching her about opera singer Enrico Caruso, the stars and planets, and how to shoot a gun, among other things.

As a child, Ginny was known for her flexibility (tumbling) and mischief. Her greatest and most costly escapade was taking her mother’s wedding ring. Like her mother, Olive, Ginny had a lifelong passion for anything shiny. She took a pair of wire cutters to the ring, as she had seen her father and grandfather do many times before, to size rings to fit her child sized hand, which left the ring completely unwearable, much to the dismay of her family. As she got older, Ginny was known for her beauty and singing voice. She competed in local beauty contests and was approached to record in New York, which her cautious mother forbade her to do.

After graduating from Eastern High School in Washington, DC, Ginny worked the doll counter at Neisner’s Department Store where she met the love of her life, Murray Seltzer. According to Ginny, “this handsome guy from the shoe department would flirt with me during my breaks,” which Murray never denied. After marrying, Murray was drafted into the Army. They spent two years in Fairbanks, Alaska, where their first child, Debby, was born. Ginny remembered her eyelashes freezing in subzero weather while she waited at the bus stop to go to work. This would be the last time anyone heard of Ginny taking a bus, as Murray ferried her every place she wanted to go, always right to the front door.

After returning from Alaska, they moved to the Wilston Apartments, located in Seven Corners, Virginia, where they met lifelong friends. “Gin and Mur,” as they were known by friends, were always the first to dance at parties, and Ginny was always the last to leave, long after Murray had fallen asleep wherever coats had been piled. During their time in Wilston, Ginny worked with the Air Force at the Pentagon, in a secretarial capacity, till the birth of their second child, Dana, who was born with disabilities. While there, so Ginny could care for her own children, to meet Dana's needs, Ginny started a home-based child care business, “Miss Ginny’s Daycare,” which she was known for decades by numerous families as the beloved “Miss Ginny.”

With their family expanding, they moved to their first home in Pimmit Hills, in Falls Church, Virginia, where Ginny continued to run “Miss Ginny’s Daycare.” After the birth of their 3rd child, Tammy, Ginny and Murray finally moved into their forever home in Kings Park, and where they had their last child, David. Virginia would reside in the Kings Park home for more than 60 years, until just shortly before her passing. Ginny would always say being around babies kept her young. Nothing delighted her more than calls and visits from former daycare “graduates.” Over the years, she even cared for children of her former charges.

In addition to running her home-based daycare business for nearly fifty years, Virginia also worked part time at a nearby hospital, in the Medical Records department, for many years.

One of their most formative experiences for Ginny and Murray was giving birth to their second child, Dana, who was born with spina bifida. It was a severe case, paralyzing her from the chest down and causing encephalitis that resulted in an intellectual disability. Right after Dana was born, the doctors would not let Ginny see her baby, telling her the infant would not survive the night. After Dana survived the night, the doctors implored Ginny and Murray to put her in an institution and “forget about her.” Instead, at a time when there were very few services for children with disabilities, Ginny and Murray took Dana home, where she lived a joyful life until her death at eight years old. Ginny and Murray never regretted their choice.

Ginny adored all kinds of music, from rockabilly to opera. As a young woman, she accompanied her mother to clubs for ballroom dancing. Later, she and Murray and their friends from “the apartment days” frequented the infamous Hunter’s Lodge for live music and dancing. One of Ginny’s greatest enjoyments was musical theater and live music, from Les Misérables to Ray Charles. Ginny was always on the lookout for “new” music. Her eclectic taste included, George Jones, Roy Orbison, Irish Tenors, Elvis, Van Morrison, Sam Cooke, The Animals, Bee Gees, and kd lang.

Ginny credited her grandfather with exposing her to baseball and boxing. After Ginny grew increasingly frustrated with her family ignoring her on Sunday afternoons, her children sat her down and taught her about football. She became an avid, some say rabid, fan of Washington’s football team. She decorated every square inch of the family room with photographs, autographs, and assorted tchotchkes honoring her favorite players. Even in her 90s, Ginny had opinions about who should stay, who should go, and whether the team had any salary cap room. Along with all of her other interests, Ginny, had a passion for dolls, and was a member of the Gladys McDowel Doll Club, for which she served as secretary for many years with great joy.

After Murray was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and suffered a fall, he had to be placed in a memory care residence close to home for his safety. Gin and Mur quickly became known as “the sweethearts” of the residence, where they would hold hands. Whenever he heard music, Murray would toss aside his walker to dance with his beautiful bride.

Ginny was predeceased by Murray, Dana, and Noelle (beloved pet) and leaves behind three children, Deborah “Debby” Louise Hester (David) of Manassas, Tamara “Tammy” Lynn Seltzer (Lynn Crabb) of Washington, DC, and David Andrew Seltzer (Darlene) of Corvallis, OR; five grandchildren, Eric Hester,

Avery Seltzer, Dana Seltzer-Crabb, Carter Seltzer, and Liam Seltzer-Crabb, and three great-grandchildren, Emily Hester, Abby Hester, Owen Hester.

The family invites friends to gather Saturday, August 9th, for a Celebration of Life from 12pm to 4pm on the deck at Kilroy’s Restaurant, Ravensworth Shopping Center, 5250a Port Royal Rd., Springfield, VA 22151, 703-321-7733. Attire is casual dress.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to one of the following organizations:

SPCA of Northern Virginia: Mission is to rescue abused, neglected, and abandoned dogs and cats, rehabilitate them, and find loving homes.

Alzheimer's Association: The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support and research.

Mental Health Virginia: Mental Health Virginia is the oldest mental health advocacy organization in Virginia.

WETA: WETA is one of 354 television stations that make up the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). WETA PBS reaches 1.3 million Washington area viewers in an average week who tune in for broadcasts of children’s programs, news and public affairs, history and culture, and science and nature programs.

Shriners Children's: Shriners Hospitals for Children, commonly known as Shriners Children's, is a network of non-profit children's hospitals and other pediatric medical facilities across North America. Children with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate are eligible for care and receive all services in a family-centered environment, regardless of the patients' ability to pay. Care for children is usually provided until age 18, although in some cases, it may be extended to age 21.