Virginia Rosabelle Stipek
March 27, 1923 - June 19, 2016
"A devoted organic gardener, Virginia was at home among her flowers."
Virginia Stipek passed from this world into heaven and the presence of the Lord on June 19, 2016.
Virginia joins her husband Pastor Frank J Stipek, son Daryl Stipek and sister Ada Pulling. She is survived by three daughters and their husbands, Devita and Ross, Virginia (Beth) and Glenn, and Janine and Jon, all of whom live in Alaska; as well as by her grandchildren, including Devita's daughters Solea, and April and husband Paul, and son Joel and wife Bethany; Beth's daughters, Virginia "Ginger" and husband Stan, Adrienne, and Crystal and husband Vince; and Janine's sons Chris and wife Melinda, and Aaron and partner Leslie Ann; and daughters Mara and husband John, and Gwendolyn and husband Joshua. Her descendants include 32 great grandchildren and 10 great-great grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by the family and by the many whom she touched with her loving and generous manner.
Born in Seattle in March 1923, Virginia Rosabelle Boucher is the daughter of Harry Dee Boucher and Mary Virginia Boucher (nee O'Bannon). Dee was in the Navy and received certificates for crossing the equator and rounding the Cape of Good Hope in the very early 1900's prior to WWI. After his service in the Navy he worked for Seattle City Light until his retirement after over 50 years of service. Mary was a homemaker, as well as having a career in the J.C. Penny stores and becoming their first female department manager. "Mommie" was an accomplished seamstress who made numerous dresses for her daughters and grand-daughters for many special occasions including proms and weddings.
Virginia continued her education with millinery school and went on to design and create beautiful ladies hats prior to her marriage to Frank. In the ensuing years she continued to express her artistic talent in various mediums, carving in soapstone, painting, and creating cement sculptures for her garden. Even every gift she wrapped was such a work of art that children and grandchildren sometimes hesitated to unwrap them. She was blessed with a glorious soprano voice and her children find inspiration and consolation recalling her magnificent rendering of The Lord's Prayer.
From the mid-1960's to 2003 Frank and Virginia Stipek were Pastors at historic Lowell Community Church in Everett. This was a labor of love and fellowship and sometimes hard work. With the help of volunteers they rebuilt the sanctuary and roof of the church after the disastrous 1984 New Year's Eve fire. They were joined by Ray Keasey, who for many years was an invaluable assistant and fellow-laborer in this ministry of love and helps in this historic community.
Active in the business community, Frank and Virginia founded Northwest Millwork in the 1940's and operated it until retirement in the 1990's. Northwest Millwork, a leader in the industry, produced custom interiors for private homes, commercial buildings - such as the Executive offices of the Sea-First building in Seattle - and hotels throughout the Northwest, Alaska and Hawaii. Virginia designed and Frank built their home in North Seattle where they lived just shy of 50 years. Family and friends have many fond memories of the years spent there - the Green Lake Congregational Church met in the basement for several years while building their new facilities just a block away; family and friends (and daughters' boyfriends) recall playing pool over the years on an antique pool table that came out of the building on Nickerson where Northwest Millwork has operated since the late '50's. In the '60's a large swimming pool was built and grand-children are prominent in many photos swimming with grandpa.
In recent years, Virginia dedicated a significant portion of her time to the task of organizing and locating "good homes" for husband Frank's extensive library of Christian and pastoral reference books.
A devoted organic gardener, Virginia's yard always drew admiration for the abundance and variety of flowering plants and year-round seasonal colors and textures. She was at home working among her plants and could often be seen wearing gloves and her straw hat, armed with a pair of garden shears, surrounded by flower pots, bags of potting soil and other materials and tools of the master gardener. Her knowledge of plants and their characteristics as well as sustainable techniques and subtleties of organic gardening went beyond the ordinary, knowledge she shared generously.
Funeral Information
A memorial service and picnic will be held at Stipek Park in Bothell Washington, Saturday, July 2nd at noon.
Contact: Janine Place at 907-723-1034
Donations
Virginia was concerned for the care of our veterans and in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the disabled veterans' organization of your choice
Memorial
Isaiah 40
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary;
and they shall walk, and not faint.
Psalm 23 King James Version
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.