Virginia Belle Winchester

Virginia Belle Augmon was born March 8, 1924, in Larned, Kansas to Claude and Hazel Augmon. She was the oldest of seven  children, 3 brothers and 3 sisters. Jenny Belle, as she was called by family members and close friends, grew up in Larned and attended elementary and high school there. As a young child Jenny Belle loved to read and was proud of the knowledge she gained from books. She also learned to play the piano at a young age; later in life she taught her children to play. Jenny Belle also loved to dance the Jitterbug with her childhood sweetheart  (and husband-to-be), Earl Winchester. In high school swing dance contests Virginia and Earl consistently took first place prizes.  In 1941 Earl enlisted in the Army and was to be stationed in France. Virginia and Earl hurriedly made the decision to get married before his deployment; it was a marriage that lasted for 68 years, until his death in 2009. In 1943 their first child Jimmy was born with Phillip, Peter and JoAnn following within the next 18 years. In 1952 Earl, Virginia and Jimmy left Kansas and headed for Seattle.  During a stop in Portland, Oregon, they experienced an unforgettable sunset and decided to go no further and make their home here in Portland.  In 1953 they became members of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in northeast Portland and were very involved in church activities. Virginia served in the Women’s Missionary Society and on the Usher Board for fifty-plus years. She loved working with children and served as youth group leader for 14 years;  she taught Sunday School and played piano for Sunday worship and Sunday School for many years. Virginia worked at the Portland Water Bureau and later for Multnomah County in data processing. After retirement she worked for the American Red Cross and later served as church secretary at Bethel. Virginia was never one to sit around and do nothing. She loved to travel within and outside the United States; trips to Europe, the Bahamas and the Oregon Coast were very special times for Virginia and Earl. They also were involved in several local clubs. Virginia was a member of Intercultural Fellowship Group I of Church Women United for many years.  Leisure Hour Golf Club was important to Virginia, who thought everyone should play golf, including people of color. As a longtime member of Leisure Hour she won many awards and trophies. After retiring she was extensively involved with the Leisure Hour Junior Golfers , encouraging them to pursue professional golfing. Virginia had a way of making others feel comfortable; she was loved by all who knew her. Her sense of humor captured the hearts of people around her and even those who had only just met her. Virginia was preceded in death by her husband Earl, son James, and brothers, Jim and Johnny. Virginia is survived by her children, Phillip Cameron of Portland, Peter Jon (Traci) of Vancouver, WA, and JoAnn Carlyle of Liptovsky Mikulas, Slovakia, a grandson Nathaniel Earl, three sisters Delores Wright, Donna Whitcliffe, and Claudine Johnson, a brother Sonny, and a host of nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law, and close friends.