Virginia Goodson Slatton
September 27, 1923 - December 28, 2016
Virginia loved her family and was the consummate volunteer!
Virginia Goodson Slatton, age 93, of Lynnwood, WA passed away in Lynnwood after a life well lived.
Virginia was born in Sale Creek, Tennessee on September 27, 1923, the oldest of 7 siblings to Harry and Lou Goodson. When Virginia was 18 years old her mother died and her youngest sister was only 2. Virginia married George Slatton on March 16, 1947 and subsequently moved to Washington where George had settled after being stationed at Fort Lewis during WWII. They resided in Verlot close to Granite Falls, WA where George worked for the US Forest Service and Virginia settled into her role as a homemaker. In 1949 George and Virginia moved to Darrington where he worked for the Forest Service, 3-Rivers Plywood Mill and eventually Summit Timber sawmill until his retirement in 1984. Virginia worked in the local variety store until the birth of their only child, Cindi in 1955. She spent the next 18 years raising their daughter and working part-time at the Darrington Library. In the late 70’s Virginia started her career in volunteerism. She was a member of the Darrington Library Board, Cemetery Board, Planning Board, and eventually a member of the Darrington Town Council. It was during this time in Virginia’s life that she and several other Darrington women founded the Darrington Food Bank which became part of the Snohomish County Food Bank Coalition and it exists to this day due to the dedication of this group of Darrington residents. She was very proud of the Food Bank and her role in its creation. In recognition of her many civic contributions she was named Grand Marshall of the 4th of July parade in 2005. She was very proud of these accomplishments as is her family.
Virginia was down to earth, loving, generous, and caring. Family was always her first priority and there was a time when both of her brothers lived with her family in Darrington. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the lights of her life. When the great-grandchildren came along, she had a new nickname: “GG”, short for great-gramma. Virginia is survived by her daughter Cindi and husband Gary Cruz, grandchildren Travis and his wife Amy, Megan and her husband Brian Luttrell, great-grandchildren Dakotah and Beckett Cruz. Virginia is also survived by her step-grandchildren Matt and his wife Cindy and sons Seth and Ben; Debbie and her husband William Castillo and children Jarid, Rayann, Jesse, Veronica, Emilee and Karson; Dusty and his wife Holly Cruz and children Collin and Kailie. She is also survived by a sister, Betty Rinehart of Lafayette, Georgia, her life-long friend Nell Fisher of Dalton, Georgia, and special friends Lisa and Dean Peterson of Darrington, Washington. There are also numerous nieces and nephews spread across the US.
Virginia enjoyed cooking, reading, and gardening. When George was alive they both enjoyed traveling having made multiple trips across the country to visit family in Tennessee, Colorado, Oregon, and Georgia. Virginia moved in with her daughter Cindi in 2014 where she resided until moving in to Brookdale Alderwood Assisted Living in November of 2016. Virginia’s family would like to acknowledge the kindness and caring of the Brookdale staff these final weeks of her life. They were amazing in their care giving to Virginia and they will always be remembered.
FUNERAL INFORMATION
Please join us for a Celebration of Virginia's life on Friday, January 6th, 2017. The graveside service will be held at the Darrington Cemetery at 11 a.m. The Darrington Cemetery is on State Highway 530 approximately one mile before reaching the Darrington city limits.
DONATIONS
Darrington Funeral Dinners, P.O. Box 698, Darrington, WA 98241 or the charity of your choice.
Memorial
She has achieved success
She has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much;
Who has won the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children;
Who has filled her niche and accomplished her task;
Who has never lacked appreciation of Earth's beauty or failed to express it;
Who has left the world better than she found it, Whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
Who has played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation;
Who has always looked for the best in others and given them the best she had;
Whose life was an inspiration;
Whose memory a benediction.
Bessie Anderson Stanley (adapted)
My Symphony
To live content with small means.
To seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion.
To be worthy not respectable, and wealthy not rich.
To study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly, to listen to stars, birds, babes, and sages with open heart, to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never.
In a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common.
This is to be my symphony.
William Ellery Channing