Virginia James Olansen

Born on February 14, 1949, in Flushing, New York, Ginger was a graduate of Adelphi University. She worked for many years at Sperry and later Unisys before retiring. She and her husband raised their family on Long Island before moving to Williamsburg, where they enjoyed their life together.

Born on Valentine's Day, a date that fittingly reflected the love she carried throughout her life, Ginger was known for her steady devotion to the people and things she loved. She especially enjoyed surprising her grandchildren with small gifts—often items she loved herself—finding joy in watching them smile. She was also prone to sending indecipherable text messages to her grandchildren, which always made them laugh.

An incredibly talented artist, Ginger filled her home with her creations. Working primarily in acrylics, she loved painting landscapes, especially scenes inspired by her travels to Europe. Every wall in her home displayed her work, a testament not only to her talent but to the passion she poured into her art. She loved teaching art to others and spent countless hours painting spooky creatures for the Governor's Land annual neighborhood Halloween party. She and her beloved husband shared a love of travel, especially cruising through Europe. Together they explored beautiful cities, collected memories, and brought home inspiration that she transformed into lasting works of art.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Cleveland and Ginny James; her brother, C. Shelton James; and her husband, Wayne Olansen. Ginger is survived by her son, Nathan Olansen, and daughter-in-law, Stephanie Smith; four grandchildren, Jennifer, James, Ellen Grace, and John Olansen; her sister, Toni Cleveland; four nieces, Jackie, Carey, Cathy, and Cristi; her nephew, Craig; and her faithful companions, Willow the dog and K.C. the parrot.

A family gathering and celebration of Ginger's life will be held at a future date and time to be announced.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Heritage Humane Society, 430 Waller Mill Road, Williamsburg, VA 23185, or online at heritagehumane.org.