MaryVirginia (Summers) Bluhm

While attending the University of Arizona, Tucson, her roommate introduced her to a handsome engineering student, also from Phoenix. Floyd Bluhm had a 1931 Ford Model A Roadster and as Floyd remembered, many fellows in Cochise Hall used to pay him $1.50 for a round-trip ride to Phoenix. Floyd stated, “One holiday a young lady in my English or maybe math class knew that I would be going to Phoenix, so she arranged for me to take her roommate from Yuma Hall. I said, ‘fine.’ When I told her what the cost would be she said ‘that price was acceptable.’ After a few weeks, I didn’t take guys to Phoenix anymore, and I stopped charging this special passenger, Mary Virginia Summers.”

They began a romance that culminated in their marriage on September 19, 1942, the same day Floyd graduated from Officer Training School. They were married at the Chanute Air Base Chapel, Champaign County, Illinois. Mary Virginia’s father had put her on a train in Phoenix to travel to meet her anxious groom at Chanute. Mary Virginia and Floyd lived in Phoenix, Merced, Fresno, Sacramento and back to Fresno during his working career, making lifelong friends and enduring memories in each location. Along the way, they created a family of four sons who were the center of her attention. She was an active participant in their school and sports activities and took great pride in their achievements.

She was a creative and gracious hostess, welcoming friends and strangers into her home for any variety of events, including club meetings, holiday meals, family celebrations and bridge parties.

If she could entice you into a game of Tri-Ominos, Mary Virginia was especially pleased. Only then would you encounter her ruthless side. Her grandchildren remember with amusement that she would threaten to “bloody your stump” if you thwarted her next play. This line was delivered with a smile and a twinkle in her eye.

Wherever she and Floyd lived, she worked diligently for her church community and, at one point, purchased a Braille transcription machine to learn how to prepare books for the blind for a church-sponsored project. She was particularly proud of her membership in PEO, a women’s philanthropic organization, and served as their president in 1976-1977. She established close, valued friendships with her PEO sisters and often spoke of them fondly and with admiration.

Mary Virginia was an excellent seamstress and created an assortment of costumes for her children and grandchildren over the years. She drew her own patterns and was not afraid to embellish and adorn them with her unique interpretation of “jazzy.” Most memorable to those who met Mary Virginia was her smile. Wherever she went, people would comment on her sweet disposition and beautiful smile. We will miss that smile.

Mary Virginia was predeceased by Floyd, her husband of 53 years, and their son, John. She was also predeceased by her brothers, Edward and Logan Garner and her sister and best friend, Betty Margaret Keller.

She is survived by her sons, Theo (JoAnn), Raymond (Annette) and David (Mary Ann) and her grandchildren, Michael (Cheryl), Meredith (Carlos), Gabriel, Joel and Andrew (Morgan). Additionally, she was blessed with great grandchildren, Rocco, Bridgette, Gwendolyn, Georgia, Eleanor, Frankie, and Frankie’s baby brother, due in December. She also leaves behind numerous beloved nieces and nephews who were so attentive and kind to her throughout her life. Their love was a precious commodity to her.

We are especially grateful to Mary Virginia’s caregivers during the last four months, Mark and Roselle, who could not have been more loving and gentle with her had she been their own mother.

A Celebration of her Life will be held at Whitehurst Sullivan Chapel, 1525 E. Saginaw Way on Saturday, November 9, 2019, at 1:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Heart of the Horse Therapy Ranch, 14335 Academy Oaks Lane, Clovis, CA 93619 or Poverello House, P.O. Box 12225, Fresno, CA 93777.