It is with great sadness we announce the December 1, 2024, passing of Virginia Lee
Cooper (Devlin), loving mother, grandmother and aunt. She is survived by her daughter
Claudette Lindquist and husband Neil, granddaughter Jennifer Corcoran, husband Joel,
and great grandchildren Noah, Peyton, Cooper, and Charlotte; grandson Scott Pittman,
wife Trisha, and great grandchildren Ryker and Embree. Nieces Kimberly Schaaf, Paula
Slutsky, Virginia (Ginger) White, and Kathy Deerinwater (Kitty), and her beloved cat,
Maisey.
Virginia was born December 2, 1936 in Wisconsin to mother Anne Marie (Govednik)
Cooper and Henry Burton Cooper, with siblings Patricia Ann Cooper and Henry Burton
Cooper Jr., who preceded her in death (1981,1972). She spent her early childhood first
in Wisconsin, then Arizona, and finally California where she spent most of her life before
moving in retirement to the Seattle area of Washington.
Virginia, also known as Ginny in her youth, and had a long career with large commercial
maintenance companies, starting as an elevator operator (60’s & and 70’s) and working
up to Vice President of Quality Control. Her bubbly personality was a natural fit and her
clients loved her. She enjoyed and took pride in her work, which kept her busy with
many steps and nearly as many driving miles throughout the Southern California region.
Even in retirement, Virginia tried to keep in touch across the miles with beloved
colleagues and friends. It always made her day to hear from an old friend. She was
known for her avid interests in country music, Mexican Restaurants, Elvis Presley, cars
(her prized possessions), and a long history of pampered kitties—Baby(x2), Sally, and
Maisey.
Family relationships, although sometimes difficult, were very important to her as well.
Single motherhood is a tough job, and in the 50’s and 60’s it was especially tough. She
worked hard and stumbled occasionally, but her love was strong and sure. She entered
Grandmother status at a young age with a little trepidation, until she met her
granddaughter Jennifer, whom she promptly fell in love with. Having only one child
herself, when her grandson came along, she was anxious that she would be able to
love a second grandchild as much as the first. Her fear was unfounded, and she doted
on both grandchildren and was an active “Grammy” in their childhood and into their
adult years. She was over the moon as great grandchildren arrived and was only sad
they lived far away. She enjoyed sharing cards and email correspondence when she
could, always aiming to never miss a birthday or holiday. Keeping up with technology
was something she worked hard to do-email, cell phone, and Facebook with some long-
distance tech support from family members, especially grandson-in-law Joel. She even
got to know a few of her great-grandchildren via FaceTime video calls.
In her later years, although her health impeded her fun-loving spirit, she enjoyed
checking out new restaurants with her daughter and niece Kim, getting to know her
nieces, making friends and living a quiet life in a Senior community apartment complex
in Bothell Washington.
The Interment of Virginia’s ashes are at St. Andrews by the Sea Memorial Garden,
San Clemente, California.
