Virginia Lee "Ginnie" Orr

Virginia Lee “Ginnie” Orr, age 85, of Grants Pass, died Monday, March 9, 2009 at a local foster care home.

A memorial service will be at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, March 19, 2009 at Bethany Presbyterian Chruch. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.

Memorial donations may be made to Grants Pass Lions Club, PO Box 6, Grants Pass, Oregon 97528 or to Lovejoy Hospice, 939 SE 8th Street, Grants Pass, OR 97526.

Virginia was born on March 27, 1923 in Danville, Illinois to Clarence and Mame (Shean) Alison. Ginnie moved from Deadwood, SD, in 1943, to Bremerton, WA, to take a job as a telephone operator. She met her future husband, William (Bill) Orr at a USO dance and married him in March,1944. Bill and Ginnie owned and operated a furniture refinishing business in Tacoma, Washington for a number of years until Bill was recalled to active duty during the Vietnam Conflict. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. Meanwhile, Ginnie returned to school and earned an LPN degree in nursing and worked at Tacoma Hospital. In 1988, they moved to Grants Pass and resided there until Bill passed away in 1993. They were married for 49 years.

Ginnie was very active in the University Presbyterian Church of Tacoma and the Bethany Presbyterian Church of Grants Pass.

She enjoyed working on projects as a member of the Lady Lions Clubs of Tacoma and Grants Pass. A library volunteer, a pinochle player, a lover of good humor and a master joke-teller, Ginnie was much loved by her friends and family.

She is survived by two sons, Gary Orr of Tacoma, Washington and special friend Kathy, Marc Orr of Tacoma,Washington; a daughter Cindy Orr and her husband Terry Messmer of University Place, Washington; grandson Micah Orr, and granddaughters Saraliese (Jason) Keel, Kylie (Bill) Murray and agreat-granddaughter, Hallie Ann Keel.