Virginia Elizabeth McLaughlin

Virginia Elizabeth McLaughlin, 1924-2018.Virginia (Ginger) Elizabeth McLaughlin, 93, of Sun City, AZ passed away Easter Sunday, April 1st, 2018. She had been married to Leonard (Len) E. McLaughlin for 64 years until his passing in 2009. Ginger has left behind three sons, Larry, David and Dean and their wives, along with 7 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren, all of whom live in California, Colorado, Oregon, Missouri, and Arkansas.The 7th of 8 children, Ginger was born in Norman, OK in July of 1924 to William A. Keeble and Lucy White, and raised on a small farm. Her oldest sister was 18 when Ginger was born. She attended Salem High School in Texas where she was voted 'Best Looking', before she moved to California and graduated from Alhambra High as the top graduate in business. She was offered the challenging top job in an insurance company in downtown Los Angeles and continued to use her skills in financial management and stenography throughout her life.Virginia met Len in LA in 1942 and they were married in 1945, two weeks before he went off to war in the Pacific aboard an LST at Okinawa, Tinian, Guam, and Japan. She awaited his return in Texas with her family. Reunited with Len after his discharge from the Navy, they moved to Southern California where they began their family in Downey until moving to Apple Valley.Known for her sharp mind and great love of children, Ginger was instrumental in founding St. Timothy's Preschool in Apple Valley, CA, and the High Desert Early Childhood Development Center in Victorville, CA, when preschools were only babysitting venues. She believed that children had a great capacity for learning at a young age and developed curriculum and programs to take advantage of these abilities long before there were Head Start and other programs. Ginger's deep love and commitment for her family was evident in her many selfless acts of service, encouragement, support and loving affirmations. Whenever she felt the need to encourage herself or someone else, she would say, "The word for the day is Courage!" She was soft spoken, kind, generous, fiercely independent, an amazing cook, a loving Wife, Mother and Granny. Ginger was an example of a life dedicated to serving her Savior. She daily sought strength, wisdom, courage and direction from His Word and her love of the Lord was obvious in all she did. A memorial service was held on April 14th at Bellevue Heights Church in Sun City, AZ. Another memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on May 19th at the High Desert Church, 14545 Hook Blvd., Victorville, CA 92394. Virginia will be buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery on Point Loma in San Diego, CA with her beloved husband and soulmate.