Virginia E. Johnston

Virginia Evelyn Johnston, better known as Ginger Johnston was born in Spokane Washington on April 26, 1933. She passed away peacefully at home with her family present on June 13th, 2014, at 81 years old. Services to be held Thursday, June 26th, 2014 at 1:30pm at Willamette National Cemetery.

Ginger retired after 42 years at The Oregonian Newspaper, Portland, Oregon, as editor of FOODay. She held that position for 21 years. The section and individual writers won so many special awards for excellence under her direction there are just too many to list here in their entirety, but here are a few: 5 awards from The James Beard Foundation, special award for in depth coverage 1992-93; first place for news reporting 1994; best section under the Newspaper Food Writers and Editors Association, now called Association Of Food Journalists, in 1992 and 1993. The Stone Soup award from The Oregon Food Bank in 1994 and again in 2001 for the attention paid to hunger in the state of Oregon. She was named Home Economist of the Year in 1992 for dedicated work for the home economists in the state; plus special recognition from The Chefs de Cuisine Society of Oregon and The American Heart Association/ Oregon Affiliate. In 1995 and 1996 the section won second place for best section in the nation from The Association Of Food Journalists. In 1998 the FOODay staff dominated awards from The Association Of Food Journalists, with a package on food safety and several awards for individual writers. Ginger has been invited many times to be a judge for events around the country, local events as well as TV including, The Oregon Beef Council's Cook-Off; National Chicken Cooking Contest; pie baking for Crisco; several times at the American Royal Barbecue Competition; 12 years at the Best in the West barbecue competition in Sparks, Nevada; The Pillsbury Bake -Off; plus a number of local competitions including those for chocolate, sauerkraut, chicken and seafood; The James Beard national cookbook awards and for The International Association of Culinary Professionals cookbook awards several times. She was awarded The Distinguished Service Award for Private Organizations and Businesses from The Boys and Girls Aid Society of Oregon in 2001 for her work with Bones and Brew Inc. Ginger served on the advisory board of Western Culinary Institute; is a founding member of Portland Culinary Alliance; member of The Association of Food Journalists; founder and past president of Bones and Brew Inc., a non-profit corporation working for the benefit of the Oregon Food Bank and Albertina Kerr Centers; past president of The Eating and Drinking Society of Oregon; former member of the advisory board of the New Rose Theater; former director for Computer Tools Inc.; member of the board of directors of the former International Food & Lifestyle Media conference; member of The James Beard Foundation and International Association of Culinary Professionals.

She was married twice; was blessed with 3 children; 2 step-children; 10 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren.