— from Pegi Groundwater —
Dear Orcas Island Museums Family and Community
I am writing this letter to all of you with deep sadness to inform you that Virginia Jensen, long time Museum volunteer, Orcas Islander and our most experienced volunteer historian passed away July 8th. She was undergoing chemotherapy on the mainland. A life-long Orcas Islander, Virginia lived, learned and enthusiastically collected our island’s history. She could almost always identify a photo or provide an answer to questions regarding people, places and things of our island which she truly loved.
I cannot think of a Museum project or exhibit that Virginia didn’t contribute valuable information and content to. With her vast knowledge of local personalities she was a major contributor to our recent Saving and Hearing Orcas Voices initiatives. She shared her local knowledge and efforts to so many of our programs such as Washington Rural Heritage, our many exhibits, our photographs and objects collection, History Nooks and Matinees. She was named our Historian of the Year for 2015 at our most recent annual meeting.
Virginia spent countless hours poring over historic newspapers in the Library and helped hundreds of folks over decades with research inquiries that came to the Historical Society. She remembered who owned what business and when it operated, answered many questions about genealogy, could identify the original owner of a house or property, the subject matter or families by name in a vintage photo, and was familiar with the details of many local family trees. Well versed on local lore and facts, Virginia Jensen was happy to help anybody and share her encyclopedic knowledge of all things related to Orcas Island history.
On behalf of all of our board members, volunteers and staff, our thoughts and prayers go out to all her friends and family as we grieve the passing of this wonderful caretaker of our unique heritage.
Warmest regards,
Jesse Clark McAbee, Director
Jim Biddick, President
Orcas Island Historical Museums Orcas Island Historical Society
She will be forever missed and I will hold on to her generous wisdom along with her spunky ways!
Virginia actually just died this past week, not July 8th.
Virginia was a peach & always very happy to share local history.
CORRECTION OF VIRGINIA JENSEN POSTING
Virginia passed this past Wednesday the 13th July
We will be posting her obituary as soon as possible along with date and time of memorial service. If you have a questions please call me at 376-4494
Leith Templin
Virginia was a terrific Library volunteer, spending countless hours with our newspaper microfilm collection researching historical questions on behalf of library users, in addition to doing research for the Museum and her personal interests.
She was a joy to spend time with and to learn about Orcas Island history.
Yesterday is just an eyelid blink from tomorrow.
It is hard for me to believe I became acquainted with Virginia 70 years ago, circa 1945/46, when she was an always present, welcoming fixture, in Templin’s Store.
Having been ‘on Island,’ since 1936 when Dad built our log cabin, and I assimilated much island history and lore, I became a Historical Museum Docent sometime circa 50’s, 60’s, 70’s.
Virginia was a Museum historian and it was a pleasure to be able to ask her questions and always get an answer, which would be entered into the Museum files for future researchers to find.
I will miss her unexpected, questioning, ‘out-of-the-blue’ phone calls.
—Harry Patton
Jerry and I met Virginia 6 years ago when on island to research his family’s pioneer history. Virginia’s enthusiasm, persistence and frank comments endeared her to us. We’ve so enjoyed our annual visits with her since then, telling her she was adopted into the family. We had expected to introduce our children and grandchildren to her later this month when 4 generations of vGs are coming to Orcas. How she will be missed but her legacy of research will live on to benefit so many. Pam von Gohren