STURGES, Virginia Mae -- Born March 13, 1927 in Santa Ana, California to Revaud R. Raymond and Laura Violet Raymond and known to her friends as Ginger, Virginia Mae Sturges lived in the northern California area with her family until she was seventeen. She graduated with honors from John Swett High School in Crockett, California, and entered the Cadet Nurse Corps during WWII. A graduate of the L.A. County Hospital, Ginger received her RN designation and was working at Veterans Hospital when she married Ray Sturges in Santa Ana on September 5, 1948. She also served as a nurse in Santa Monica, New Orleans, San Mateo, San Jose and Los Gatos. Ray and Ginger raised their three sons in Santa Clara and Los Gatos, California, before moving to Corral de Tierra in 1988 and then to Rocklin, California in 2003. In addition to being a loving and supportive mother, grandmother, and wife, Ginger enjoyed the company of friends and family at her vacation home in the Sierras and at the many social events she and Ray attended together. She was an excellent bridge player and enjoyed numerous card and board games, ping pong and golf - usually beating all challengers. Her lively intellect was exceeded only by her enormous lifelong generosity. She passed on December 23rd 2003. Virginia is survived by her husband, Raymond, her three sons, Craig, Mark, Doug and their wives Diane, Debby, and Kathy. She had eight grandchildren, Shannon, Stephanie, Brian, Eve, Clare, Andrew, Elizabeth, Hannah Mae, and one great granddaughter, Lily. She also leaves her sister-in-law, JoAnn Raymond and three nieces, Cathy, Jill and Lynn. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Revaud Raymond, Jr. and Robert Raymond. A memorial service will be held at 11am on Saturday January 10th in San Jose at South Hills Community Church, 6601 Camden Ave - 408-268-1676. Ginger will be sorely missed by her family and the many friends she enjoyed during her bountiful life. The family requests any memorials be sent to the charity of your choice.
Published in San Jose Mercury News on Jan. 7, 2004
