Virginia E. Denton

Virginia “Ginny” Schmauch Williams Denton was born in Huntington, West Virginia, to Carl and Elizabeth (Rappold) Schmauch on December 20, 1934. Her parents divorced during her pre-school years and she lived with her mother, her mother’s sister Rose Lucas, or her mother’s cousin Madolyn Shamlin and attended Catholic parochial schools. She lived with her father and his family during high school, attending Scott High School in Madison, West Virginia and worked as a “soda jerk” at the Madison Drug Company where her father was the druggist. After graduating from high school in 1952, Ginny moved to Washington DC to work as a clerk for the FBI under J. Edgar Hoover. Her starting wage was $230.00 per month. Housing, with room and board, was $55-$65 per month. During her time in Washington DC, she met and fell in love with her handsome soldier, PFC Ronald Lee Williams, a farm boy from Klamath Falls, Oregon. They were married June 12, 1954, in Dillon, South Carolina and were blessed with 3 children – 2 girls and a boy. Early in 1959, Ronnie resigned his commission as an Army 1st Lieutenant and the family moved to Oregon. Ginny was widowed in June of 1962 at the age of 27. She held many different jobs over the years – clerk, secretary, labor and delivery nurse, junior high audio-visual aide, investment brokerage clerk, and receptionist. With 3 children to raise on her own, there were many times there was not enough money for the electric bill and dinner would be a can of tomato soup and saltine crackers for the children while she did without. She remarried a few times, but no one held a candle to her first love, Ronnie. After living in The Dalles, Oregon for many years, Ginny moved to Newport, Oregon to be near the ocean. In the mid-1980’s, she moved to Newberg, Oregon where she was surrounded by family. She often either had family living with her or would invite her grandchildren to her house for special “night with Grandma” sleep-overs. She loved to sing, her favorites included “A Bushel and a Peck” and “It Had to Be You.” On May 8, 2021, Ginny died in her residence following a long struggle with dementia. Ginny’s life was dedicated to her children. She was our only constant; our greatest cheerleader; our defender and protector; our best friend. She kept us together and was always there for us. She was much loved and we will miss her always. Ginny was preceded in death by both her parents, Carl Schmauch and Elizabeth (Rappold) Wentz, husband Ronald Lee Williams, son Ronald Lee “Mike” Williams Jr., brother Carl Schmauch, sister Carline Combs, and great-grandchildren Isabelle “Belle” and Thomas Busch. Surviving and left to honor her life are daughters Kim Adams (Hollis) and Bonnie Nashif (Mike), both of Newberg, OR. Her grandchildren Chandra Cox (Matt), Gavin Hinton, Chanel Stokes (Ellis), Sonya Williams and family, Jennifer Adams (Jason), Amanda Adams (Noe), and Nathaniel Adams (Laura). Her great-grandchildren James Busch, Rynn Busch, Kennedy Adams, Darian Stokes, and Jayden Stokes. A private family service is planned. Arrangements are in the care of Attrell’s Newberg Funeral Chapel, online condolences may be made at www.attrells.com

Virginia E. Denton

December 20, 1934 - May 8, 2021