Virginia Ginny Butler Feb. 22, 1930- Feb. 20, 2007 Two days shy of her 77th birthday, my grandmother lost her battle to uterine cancer. She died in her home surrounded by family. The time was 2:45 p.m. She leaves behind a loving legacy for her family, and those whose lives shes touched over the years. We will miss her smile, her infectious laugh, her sense of humor and of course the elaborate meals that only she could prepare. If Grand ma had it her way, the concept of graveside service would be re-vamped to include cocktails, her favorite white zinfandel, bacon teased spinach salad, prime rib or honey barbecued ribs, and most importantly, a chocolate souffle, or Claim Jumper's wipeout cake for desert. And of course, we can't forget a gentle serenade by John Denver or Engelbert Humperdinck. Grandma was born Virginia Alma Rust on February 22, 1930 in Cook County, Chicago, Illinois to Youel Lee Rust and Gertrude Marion Drinkwine. To her fr iends, she was always Ginny. She spent most of her life here, and witnessed first hand the changes throughout the years. She always referred to the old Long Beach as her city and held it close to her heart. She could tell you stories about the old Pike, the Pier, the old Vincent Thomas Bridge, and of course the infamous Lions Drag Strip where many of their days and week-ends were spent. And of course racing with Mickey Thompson was always a highlight of their drag strip days. I'm convinced that my father, a t an early age, probably thought that the drag strip was their home. You see, my grandfather was an avid motorcycle racer. Grandma could cite every historical landmark in Long Beach and always had a story that connected each of them to the various stages of her life. We always thought of Grandma as a pioneer of some sort, although she would never consider herself that. She wanted to live a simple life and follow a humble path. Some of Grandma's friends called her the original Rosie, the riveter from the tim e when women, in the usually male dominated field, were still considered a novelty in the work force. She worked alongside her male counterparts building airplanes piece by piece, metal by metal, rivet by rivet. She took great pride in her retirement from McDonnell Douglas after 26 years of service. What I recall most about my Grandma was her love for arts and crafts. She was always cutting something out of newspapers and magazines. Everyday was an excuse for a new project. She also had a green thumb. She c ould grow anything. Her backyard was like a science lab for flowers, vegetables and fruit trees. Her lettuce garden was home to her turtles. She enjoyed watching the hummingbirds circling her gardens and the various feeders that shed strategically placed throughout the yard. I recall her wind chimes and their sounds which we've come to know as the sounds of Grandma's house. I think that we play a special role in our respective families. My Grandma was the caretaker. She opened her home and her heart to all of us in times of need and provided shelter, comfort, and unconditional love. Of course, there was always the food. Grandma believed there was not an ailment in the world that couldn't be cured by a carefully prepared meal. She could whip up a five course breakfast, lunch or dinner in 10 minutes flat! Christmas time at Grandma's house was a culinary feast for the senses, from the cookies, the fudge, the cakes, and the pies that she would lovingly prepare to put in various gift packs for family and friends. I remember making sugar cookies and being able to eat the ones that were broken, because we couldn't very well give out broken cookies! I'm sure she didn't know we intentionally broke them. She was our rock, the one we went to for support when life became a little rough. We will miss her greatly and our lives will never be the same. A graveside service is scheduled for Saturday, March 3, 2007 at 12:30 p.m. at Forest Lawn located at 4471 Lincoln Avenue, Cypress, California. In lieu of flowers, please send do nations to the American Cancer Society.
Published in the Long Beach Press-Telegram on 3/1/2007.