Phoebe Virginia Pearson Richards passed away at the age of 96 on April 2, 2019 in Provo, Utah. Virginia was born on March 2, 1923 in Springfield, Missouri, to Leonard Braines and Jane Ann Browning Pearson. She grew up during the Great Depression, the sixth of eight children in a loving family and hard-working family. In 1945-46, Virginia served in the Waves, a women’s branch of the Navy Reserve during World War II and was in Times Square during the V-J Day celebration. Virginia served as an LDS missionary in the Central Atlantic States from 1950-51.
She studied at the University of Arizona at Tempe and the University of Utah and graduated in 1953. She was married in June 18, 1953 to Joel Nevin Richards in the Salt Lake LDS temple. They were always dedicated to each other and their eight children and were happily married for 48 years. She had a long career as a medical technologist at Primary Children’s Hospital, the University of Utah Hospital and ARUP until she retired in 1988. After Nevin’s death in 2001, Virginia served an LDS mission at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. Virginia had artistic talent and enjoyed wood carving and painting landscapes. She was also an avid journal keeper.
Virginia was preceded in death by her dear husband, Nevin: her brothers, David, Leonard, Owen, and Ralph Pearson; sisters, Betty Ray and Margaret Fay; and beloved grandchildren, Raquel Blomquist and Riley Richards. Virginia is survived by her sons, Joel, Jr.(Beverly), Mark(Gouri), Bruce(Rose), James, and Robert(Cindy); daughters, Jane Wagner(John), Christine King (Vernon), and Katherine Richards; and brother, Wayne F. Pearson(Velda); 20 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in whatever capacity she was called.
Friends and family members may attend the funeral service at Valley View 11th ward, (4395 S. Albright
Dr. Holladay, Utah 84124) Tuesday April 9th at 11:00 preceded by a viewing at 10:00.
Donations in Virginia's honor can be made to the Alzheimer's Association or the American Heart Association.
