Virginia Margaret Johnston

Virginia ("Ginger") Margaret Johnston, 86, died August 23, 2010 in Ilwaco. She was born April 16, 1924 in Seattle, Washington to Gladys (Walker) Cox and Allison Cox. She graduated from Edmonds High School in 1942 and in 1944 she joined the Marine Corps in honor of her fiancé, who was shot down in a Boeing Flying Fortress in a raid over Germany. She was a member of a women's rifle team. and competed successfully at civilian rifle matches up and down the east coast. She marched in the parade for Admiral Nimitz when he returned from the Pacific. After the war, she joined the active reserves. Her years as a Marine were one of her proudest achievements. In 1948, she married Bruce Johnston, and she left the military in 1950. As a civilian, she worked as a clerk for the city of Seattle for many years. She and her husband both retired in 1977 and moved to their vacation home near Yelm, Washington. She enjoyed reading, crocheting, gardening, preserving her home grown fruits and vegetables, attending events at the Moose Lodge, and visiting with their close neighbors. For ten years, Virginia and Bruce "snowbirded" to Arizona for six months out of the year, but she loved her northwest home and garden and was happy to eventually live there year round. The 18 years of retirement with Bruce were contented and happy ones. After her husband died in 1995, Virginia decided to move to the Long Beach Peninsula to be near her daughter, and she arrived here with her cat, Tabby, in June of 1999. Over the next ten years, she created a beautiful garden around her Long Beach home, gardening actively into her early 80s. She greatly enjoyed the day when it was featured in June 2009 on the Peninsula Garden Tour. In late August of 2009, she moved into Golden Sands Assisted Living where she found new friends, an active social life, membership in a women's veterans group and a happy last year. Her friends and family had hoped she would have many more happy years there. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Skyler Walker and Allan Fritz, and by a nephew, John Cox of Seattle. At her request there will be no funeral, but a memorial gathering will be held at Golden Sands Assisted Living (21608 O Lane, Klipsan Beach) on Thursday, September 2nd at 2.30 P.M. Because she so loved her animal companions over the years, we request that any donations be made to the South Pacific County Humane Society. Penttila's Chapel by The Sea in charge of arrangements.