Virginia Dare Reagan

Virginia Dare Starling Reagan was born Nov. 15, 1923 in Hahira, GA to Clara and Leonard Starling. She had two brothers, Robert Starling and Raymond Dailey. On Nov. 18, 1943, she married Albert Brice Reagan. Daughters Bonnie Jean Reagan and Karen Sue Reagan McDonnell joined the family in 1944 & 1947. Al passed away in 1972 and Bonnie in 2007. Grandchildren and great grandchildren are Denny (& Sarah) Luce (Zach & Haley); Christina Fields (Sammie & Amber) and Bonnie Jean McDonnell (Jesiah).

Virginia had a very difficult and painful childhood, but in her teens her stepfather, a pilot in the U S Navy, moved the family to Honolulu, Hawaii. For 3 years, Virginia was living in a virtual paradise. Not only did she love Hawaii, she was a very beautiful young woman living on a Navy base with 1,000s of single sailors. She was very popular. She loved to dance to the “big band” tunes, and was quick and petite; so, as Al would say, they’d “throw her all over that dance floor!” She had so many boyfriends that when Al would come to call and her little brother, Ray, would answer the door, he’d yell, “Virginia, Al’s here!” and she’d yell back, “Which one?!” She had five Al’s she was seeing at the time!

Sadly, all of that changed on December 7, 1941. Virginia and her 7-year-old brother, Ray, heard the shells hit the roof of their base housing, and watched the bombings out of Ray’s 2nd story bedroom window. Her stepfather made it back to his plane and was gone, with no word, for several days before he returned safely. She was in her senior year of high school, but unable to finish as it was closed down and became a bomb shelter. They put thick black coverings on their windows, and lived in constant fear until they could be evacuated off the island. She lost several friends on that day and over the next few years, and suffered from several health issues for the rest of her life.

The family returned to Hawaii for a few years when Al was called back into the Navy during the Korean War. Virginia and Al and the girls lived in the California bay area for the remainder of Al’s life. She moved to Salem OR in 1986 to be near her girls.

The family would like to make a special acknowledgement and huge thank you to Kindred Hearts Care Home and Tierra Rose Care Center for taking such wonderful care of Virginia over the last very difficult years of her life. God Bless all the care providers of our elderly and terminally ill. They are very special folks with a wonderful gift; God’s angels on earth. Also, thank you to Serenity Hospice for all your help over the past few weeks.

Arrangements by Howell-Edwards-Doerksen Funeral Home, www.HED-FH.com.