Virginia D Laprise

The high desert lost a wonderful lady on Friday March 1. Virginia Dale Griffin Quimby Laprise was welcomed into Heaven by her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Virginia was born in Craig, Missouri on February 25, 1921 to Paul and Edna Griffin. She was the oldest of nine children, learning early on how to care for others and to take a leadership role. She married William F. Quimby (Bill) and they had four children, Iris, John, Sharon, and William (Bill). After moving to California in 1952 they found a home in Oro Grande where they worked and raised their family. Virginia had nine grandchildren, twenty eight great grandchildren, and one great great grandchild.

If you had the pleasure of knowing her you realized early on that she was a special person. She always had a smile for everyone. She was a wonderful wife and a great mother to her loving children. She had a positive and powerful impact on all of the many children whose lives she touched. She was a school secretary for 20 years at the Oro Grande elementary school, a faithful member of the Oro Grande Community Church, a member of the Grange and active in the community. She was later a devoted member of the Victor Valley Bible Church. She was a great cook and baker. Count yourself lucky if you ever feasted on her homemade bread, pies, cinnamon rolls, and meals. The smell of fresh bread hot out of the oven remains with us.

Bill passed away in 1974. She married Jerry Laprise in 1984. Jerry had five children-Paulette, Karen, Sharon, Phillip, and Denny, and they became part of the clan. She loved them as her own. Jerry passed away in 1990. Her later years had been spent traveling with the family and living near them. The last year of her life she lived at Sterling Inn, where she met many new friends and enjoyed life to the fullest. She especially enjoyed visits by family and friends.

She will be greatly missed by hundreds of family members and friends.