Virginia (Ginger) Axford Locke passed away peacefully on Feb. 20, 2015 of natural causes. At the time of her passing, Virginia was recovering from injuries substained in a car accident and was being cared for at Riverside Nursing and Rehabiliation Center in Centralia. She was 84 years old.
Virginia was born April 19, 1930 in Nebraska to Thurel (Turtle) and Ada Axford. She had one brother, Nolan.
At the young age of 17, Virginia fell in love and married Bertram E. Locke. Together, they moved to Washington and raised four children, Linda Luglan, Kenneth Locke, Terri Baxter and Becky Holdbrook. She was a stay at home mom for the primary years of her children's lives, working to keep house, animals and kids well on their Logan Hill farm. When the kids got older, she went back to school and graduated from Centralia Junior College and then went on to receive her bachelor's in education degree from Pacific Lutheran University and became one of the best elementary school teachers at Vader Elementary, according to one of her students.
Virginia was a talented artist, with oil painting being her medium of choice. She continued her mother's collection of elephants and absolutely loved children. She had an amazing wry sense of humor that was accompanied by a big, hearty laugh, beautiful smile and big blue eyes. Her granddaughter, Crystal, remembers and shares how much she loved being called her grandma's, "water baby," when they would swim together in the backyard. Ginger was a great cook, who loved flowers and arranging them, an avid scrapbooker and Brownie leader and she encouraged all her children's participation in 4-H.
When the kids were young, the family would travel all over in their RV and spent summers in a favorite spot, Ocean Shores. She loved travel and at one time visited Japan with her oldest, Linda and stayed with a host family. In her later years, she loved to travel to Palm Springs to be in the water and enjoy the warm weather. Virginia would drive herself there until just a few years ago. She loved animals, a trait she passed onto her kids. Virginia was rarely without a beloved dog.
Some special memories that the family shares include naming the cat, "Cat," as the granddaughter wanted, singing and playing piano or organ with the family and many family celebrations both at the old farm and the new house.
Virginia was preceded in death by Nolan Axford, Kenneth Locke, Bertram Locke; parents; brother; and her last love, LaTonka, her Boston Terrier.
She is survived by her three girls, Linda, Terri and Becky; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and her first great-great-grandchild.
Special thanks to the caregivers who took wonderful care of Virginia and all her needs, in her home the last few years of her life, especially Linda Twiss.
The family she left behind will hold a small private ceremony to honor and celebrate her life.
Arrangements are under the direction of Cattermole Funeral home, Winlock.
