Virginia Deardorff Claus

Virginia Deardorff Claus, 90, of Hickman and Modesto, California, peacefully passed away on October 2, 2026.  She was a tremendously beloved daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, who will be deeply missed by everyone whose lives she touched. 

Virginia was born in Berkeley, California, to Gerald S. and H. Wanda Deardorff, on July 24, 1936.  She grew up in Danville, California, when it was still largely undeveloped cattle country with one foot firmly planted in the Wild West.  A fourth-generation Californian, she was proud that her grandparents were early settlers of the East Bay, where she learned the value of hard work on their ranch and proudly self-proclaimed herself a “country girl”.  She was on the yearbook committee at San Ramon Valley High, graduating in 1954.  Following in her mother’s footsteps, she then attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, graduating from a two-year program.   

She returned to California where she worked as an Advertising Associate in the nascent television industry at KOVR, back then known as “Television Diablo” for its antenna atop Mount Diablo and its footprint of both the Bay Area and Central Valley. 

It was in Stockton that Virginia met the love of her life, Frederick C. Claus.  They wed on April 12, 1958, and together raised their five daughters in Stockton until moving to Modesto in 1968, where their son was later born.  They remained in Modesto until 1998 when they relocated to the family property, affectionately known as the “Sombrero Ranch”, in Hickman, California.  Virginia was thrilled to return to life as a country girl and loved farming walnuts, tending to her beautiful gardens and landscaping, and caring for thousands of hummingbirds. 

Over the decades, Virginia was employed at Diamond Walnut, as an accessories buyer at West’s Ethan Allen, and the Spruce Goose, which was owned by one of her daughters.  She was most proud, however, of her role as the driving force behind the creation of the McHenry Mansion Gift Store, where she was involved for over 25 years.  Through her initiative, execution, and leadership, she transformed a concept into a meaningful revenue generator for the McHenry Mansion, where she was a long serving docent and past President. 

Virginia treasured her dear friends and the many years spent together playing bunco, bridge, and dominoes and she was never afraid of hosting a dinner party.  She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and of the Del Rio Ladies 9 Holers. 

She also adored traveling with her beloved Fred.  Among their favorite destinations were the American Southwest, Carmel, California, along with visits with many friends in the Netherlands, and the many places they discovered together on various river cruises. 

Her faith was steadfast and she loved spending Sundays at Centenary Methodist Church and, later, Hughson Methodist Church. 

Virginia’s family will fondly remember her wonderfully silly and (mostly) innocent sense of humor, her love for a nightly glass of Scotch whiskey, her love of a good book, and the old Western films that were nearly always playing on her television and reminded her of the California of her youth. 

Virginia was predeceased by her husband of 60 years, Fred Claus; her parents Wanda and Gerald Deardorff; daughter Callie Claus Bradford; and her grandson, Kevin Van Horn. 

She is survived by her daughters Kathy (Patrick) Brackley of Covington, Louisiana, Gail (Joe) Nicholas of Penn Valley, California, Rebecca Claus Van Horn of Hickman, California, Diane (Joe) Tune of Modesto, California, and Charles (Sara) Claus of Charleston, South Carolina.  She was additionally very proud of her 17 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren, with two more great-grandchildren and a great-great grandchild on the way. Also dear to her were Juan Elizarraras, loyal Ranch Manager of over 30 years, and Michael Smith, Jr. who adored her.

Virginia lived a long life filled with family, friendship, faith, laughter, and love. And although she traveled far from the cattle country of her childhood, at heart she never stopped being the California country girl she was so proud to be.

Memorial services will be held at Lakewood Memorial Park in Hughson on Thursday, October 8th at 12pm.

Contributions may be made in Virginia’s memory to the McHenry Mansion Foundation or the Modesto Symphony Orchestra.