Virginia Marie Barrows

Virginia May Barrows was born April 12, 1924, in Stickney, South Dakota, to Frederick and Augusta (Ritthaler) Varenhorst, and passed away May 27, 2021, in Astoria. She was 97 years old.

In 1936, at the age of 12, she moved with her family to Laurel, near Hillsboro. She graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1941, and attended Northwestern School of Commerce in Portland, after which she worked in business offices.

On Dec. 16, 1944, she married Ernest J. Barrows, who had returned after serving 2 1/2 years years in the Southwest Pacific with the U.S. Army Air Corps. They were lifelong acquaintances, and their courtship was by letter-writing.

Virginia then lived in Sacramento, California, where Ernie was stationed at Mather Field, until the end of World War II. Two sons were born to them, Donald and Larry Barrows.

In 1959, the family moved to Astoria, where Ernie was employed in the office at Bumble Bee Seafoods.

Virginia enjoyed being a full-time homemaker. She was a member of the Columbia Memorial Hospital Auxiliary for over 50 years, and volunteered at Loaves and Fishes for over 10 years. She was a member of Peace First Lutheran Church in Astoria.

She is survived by her granddaughter, Maya Mackey, and her husband, Darin, of Ashburn, Virginia; and her daughter-in-law, Margaret E.R. Barrows, of Bellevue, Washington.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ernie; her two sons, Donald and Larry Barrows; and her brother, Vernon Varenhorst, and his wife, Barbara.

A graveside service was held at Greenwood Cemetery at 2 p.m. on May 28.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Memorial Fund at Peace First Lutheran Church, the Columbia Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, Loaves and Fishes or the charity of one’s choice.