Virginia Ruth Butterfield Fullerton

Virginia was born October 30, 2025, in Greeley, Colorado to Dr. Olin Jonathan Butterfield, M.D. and Dorothy Marie Benway Butterfield. She was one of the first babies born in the Greeley Hospital. Her brothers, Rupert Benway Butterfield of Denver, and Thomas Stanley Butterfield of Foxton, Colorado, preceded Virginia in death, as did her beloved husband of 45 years, Otis Eugene Fullerton.

Otis Eugene Fullerton "Gene" and Virginia "Ginnie" were married March 21, 1947, at St. Barnabas' Episcopal Church in Denver.

Virginia attended the historic Indian Hills School House from grades 2 through 8 in Jarre Canyon on State Highway 65, outside of Sedalia, Colorado. She was the last student to attend and graduate from the one room schoolhouse. Virginia graduated at age 17 from Castle Rock High School in 1942, where she had mastered all the instruments in the school band and orchestra and was also the Band Leader. During the holidays, Virginia was asked to sing Christmas Carols and her beautiful voice was broadcast from the speakers on Castle Rock to the town below. In 1943-1947, she attended Colorado University Boulder (CU) and University of Denver (DU), studying Piano, Voice, Foreign Languages and Music Education at the Lamont School of Music. She continued to be a member of the DU Alumni Association and Sigma Upsilon chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota (SAI) International Music Fraternity. Although she put her Music Teaching career on hold to have a family, she graduated in 2000 with her Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Denver University, 53 years later.

Wanting to be involved in the War effort, Virginia volunteered with the Red Cross in Denver until the War's end in 1945. She also worked as a Secretary in her father's medical office in downtown Denver. In 1955, Virginia and Otis bought Englewood Greenhouses on Broadway in Englewood, Colorado, and she worked as their Bookkeeper. They built and ran Fullerton's Greenhouses in 1963-1981 in Littleton, Colorado. She was Chief Financial Officer and Bookkeeper. Through the years, Virginia also raised five children and taught piano lessons to many lucky children as she was patient, kind and loved children. Otis and Virginia worked for HomeWatch Corporation as house and pet sitters. We lost dad in 1992. Mom moved to Grand Junction, Colorado in 1993. From 1997-2005 Virginia was the Administrative Secretary at School District 51 Driver's Education, and also served as a transcriptionist at Grand Junction Chiropractic. Concurrently, she volunteered at the John McConnel Math and Science Center (now called Eureka at Colorado Mesa University), working with the children who came to experience the Science Center, and at the Museum of the West transcribing oral histories.

Virginia was a 50-plus year member of The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR), as a member of the Denver Chapter and Mt. Garfield Chapter in Grand Junction, Colorado. Throughout her years of service, she played the piano for the DAR ritual, served on many committees, on the Board, and as Historian, Correspondence Secretary and Parliamentarian. She loved genealogy and helped members trace their patriots and obtain membership. Virginia was also a member of the The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America (NSCDA), Red Hat Society and Newcomers Club.

As a child, Virginia lived with her parents and grandparents Alton DeForest Benway and Jenny Humphrey Benway in Denver, Colorado. From 1932-1942, Virginia and her family moved to "the Butterfield Ranch" in Jarre Canyon off State Highway 62, 10 miles from Sedalia, Colorado. When she went to college, Virginia lived in Boulder and Denver where she rented an apartment where many of the Fullerton family lived, and met dad who was in the Army at the time. He survived WWII and returned to make her his wife. After marriage in 1947, other residences were Fort Collins, Cloud Croft, New Mexico, Knox Court, Acoma Street, and Elati Street (all in Englewood), and Eaton Lane in Littleton. After her husband, Otis, passed away in 1992, Virginia moved to Bookcliff Avenue in Grand Junction, with her daughter and son-in-law. For nine years, they all lived on 22 Road then moved to Breeze Drive in Fruita, Colorado.

Virginia was the matriarch of our family. She played piano and we would all sing surrounding her at the piano. She and dad sang beautiful duos and both entertained generously all families and friends who came to our Eaton Lane home. They belonged to the DiMuDa ballroom dance club, the Aviation Club, Wolhurst Country Club and Ports of Call travel club. Virginia learned to make English Toffee from her mom and made it every Holiday season. Virginia enjoyed reading and sewing; making wedding dresses, tailoring, and custom clothing. In 1995, Virginia started making large, ornate Christmas stockings for family members, and in all, made 35 stockings we all treasure. Virginia loved to travel! She traveled worldwide (England, France, Germany, Portugal, Italy, Hungary, Mexico) and all over the United States visting family.

Mom was an angel in the flesh. She was kind, patient, loving, supportive, fun, up for anything, loved family gatherings, savvy with technology, playing board games and taught us "Family is everything" and "It will all work out".

Virginia is survived by her five children: Ronald George Fullerton, Dennis Alton Fullerton, lived with Diana Jean Fullerton Padon and her husband Ronald Dwayne Padon, Letitia Marie Fullerton, Dorothy Ruth Fullerton Sheader, 11 grandchildren (one grandchild preceded her in death), 12 great-grandchildren, 8 great-great grandchildren, and many more loved family members and friends cherished Virginia.

We love you, Mom and Dad!

Funeral Services are being held at the Ft. Logan National Veterans Cemetery, 4400 W. Kenyon Ave., Denver, Colorado 81236 on Tuesday, May 19th, 2026 at 1pm. Much appreciation to Callahan-Edfast Mortuary, Grand Junction, Colorado, for the care and suppport they have shown our family.

In lieu of cards or flowers, if you wish, please send donations to Mt. Garfield Chapter, NSDAR, c/o Treasurer Molly Nelson, 426 Donogal Ct., Grand Junction, Colorado, 81504-4034.