Virginia ‘Ginny’ Ann King, 88, of Vancouver, WA passed away Saturday, January 6, 2018 at Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center after a short battle with cancer.
Ginny was born July 19, 1929 in Camas, WA to Andrew and Anna Von Bergen whose parents had immigrated from Switzerland. Ginny attended elementary school in Camas and graduated from Sandy High School in 1948. She married her first husband, Lawrence Ten Eyck, August 31, 1948 in Sandy, OR. She assisted Lawrence in his logging business by being his “parts runner” during their marriage, first in Sandy and then in Milton-Freewater, OR. After his death from cancer in April 1970, Ginny worked in Walla Walla, WA as a seamstress for an interior decorator.
On June 6, 1974, Ginny was united in marriage to her second husband, Oscar Melvin ‘Mel’ King, Jr. in Reno, NV. During their forty-three-year marriage they lived in various locations in AZ, NM, OR, and WA, ultimately settling in Vancouver.
Ginny’s greatest accomplishments were as a wife, surrogate mother, and friend. Having no children of her own, Ginny loved, cared for, and mentored her many nieces and nephews. Her love of the outdoors began at an early age. Her favorite activities were strolling beaches looking for unique sea shells and driftwood, picnicking and walking in the woods, but she was most happy digging in the dirt in her garden. Ginny loved all aspects of nature, especially flowers and bird watching. She enjoyed baking and sewing. She had a flair for interior decorating and kept a lovely home.
Ginny was predeceased by her parents, infant brother, first husband Lawrence Ten Eyck, and three beloved black poodles.
Ginny is survived by her husband, Mel, of Vancouver; sister Marjorie Kuehn of Hillsboro, OR, brother Walter (Louise) Von Bergen of Sandy, OR; nieces Linda (David) Wagers, Diane (Greg) Taylor, Barbara (Eric) Johnson, Kathy (Dale) Skinner, and Deanna (Doug) Edgren; nephews Merle (Dianna Buswell) Kuehn, Dale (Cindy) Kuehn, and Douglas (Jennifer) Von Bergen; numerous great nieces and nephews; step children David (Rhonda) King of Kalama, WA, Dennis (Becky) King of Vancouver, WA, Karen (Phil) Simmons of Doylestown, PA; step grandchildren Stephanie (David) Goad of Ridgefield, WA, and Randin (Kali) King of Bend, OR; step great-grandchildren Brennan, Parker, and Hadley Goad of Ridgefield, WA; dear friends Shirley Ten Eyck of Milton-Freewater, OR and Betty Stone Callister of Sandy, OR.
A private interment at Willamette National Cemetery will take place at a future date yet to be determined.