Virginia Henderson

Virginia Blanche Chabot was born in Bismark No. Dakota on June 21, 1924 and left us on March 11, 2018 at age 93. Her maternal grandparents had immigrated from St. Bonnet France in 1882. Virginia was the youngest of 3 siblings having two big brothers Andrew and Frederick. Their father, Germain Chabot, earned the family's living as a gardener for a wealthy landowner and mother Celina kept the home fires burning raising her children. Virginia often visited her grandparents farm just outside of town. Grandma Boyer was the area's midwife, herbalist, nurse, and mortician! Virginia graduated from St. Mary's High School in 1942. WWII was well underway in Europe, followed by the US involvement after Pearl Harbor. Everybody joined together on the home front and abroad and wanted to contribute to the war efforts. Virginia began working in the Todd shipyards where she trained and worked as an electrician. She was a woman working in a man's profession, a regular Rosie the Riveter. Virginia had more than one suitor in her day, but lost her heart to the Texas gentleman that gave up his seat for her on the bus one day. She and Preston married on June10, 1946 in Pierce County. Preston worked as an airplane mechanic and inspector at McChord Air Force Base for many years of the marriage. Most women were home makers in those days and Virginia was too. They made their first home in Graham, WA. Their first child, Diane, was born early when Virginia became ill with toxemia. Little Diane lived for two days, and was buried on Feb. 13, 1947. Gregory came along in Dec. of 1950 followed by Kevin in 1958. Their next home, a beautiful brick rambler in the Puyallup valley, became their permanent residence in 1955. They became members of All Saints parish where both boys attended school from grades 1 to 8. Preston built a large detached garage in the back of the home and added on a carport to house their motor home in later years. Virginia was a master gardener. She took great enjoyment and pride in having prolific gardens each year. She grew corn, beans, peas, tomatoes, and even cultivated a grape arbor. There were many beautiful lilacs, roses, tulips and daffodils as well. After Preston injured his back, he retired from McChord in 1963 and began a different career. They invested in real estate and had several rental houses. Virginia and Preston managed every aspect of their properties including repairs, maintenance, landscaping, painting, roofing, screening tenants, and collecting rents. They were always working together on one of their houses! Many a fundraising church bazaar would have Virginia's handiwork to sell. She made beautiful homemade wax candles with floral designs, hand crafted wooden shrines with statues of the Blessed Virgin, the creamiest smoothest fudge candy and hand pulled taffy. No one could make canned dill pickles like Virginia! You could use her recipe, follow all her tips, but the pickles that she made had that something special that made them so uniquely crunchy and tasty. No one could duplicate them. Virginia had the mysterious gift of being able to witch for underground water. When Greg and Marilyn built a cabin in the wilderness of Eastern WA., they enlisted her skills to find water for a well. Virginia did indeed find that water! For many years, Saturday evening was bridge night, preceded by watching the Lawrence Welk Show, of course! This was some serious card playing with Preston and Evelyn vs. Virginia and John. Virginia often served potato chips with blue cheese dip, popcorn, and lots of coffee. Many card games lasted till 2 or 3 in the morning! Every Labor Day weekend the Hendersons and Sinkulas would head up to Mt. Adams for huckleberry picking. Preston and Virginia had their orange 1949 GMC panel. Preston built bunks, cabinets, storage, and a gas cook top to convert it for short camping trips. The kids were sometimes allowed to ride on the front fenders while slowly driving through the dirt roads looking for berry picking spots. Adults and kids alike gathered all the berries they could. Virginia made jams , cobblers and scrumptious pies. She was the official pie maker in the family. There was no contest at the Puyallup Fair when Virginia entered her recipes. She was a real "Cordon Bleu," and several of those blue ribbons went home with her. There were many camping trips to the ocean for clam digging, bonfires, sand fights, beach combing and enjoying family. Virginia really loved to gamble. She had a blast going to bingo nights at church or anyplace there was bingo, especially Vegas. She and Preston spent lots of time in Carson City, Reno, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin and Vegas with their motor home seeing the sights and gambling wherever they went! Virginia was known to operate with 12 bingo cards at once! She was always up for a casino dinner on any occasion. Virginia so loved her whole family. Gregory married Marilyn Sinkula and had one son, Chad. Kevin married Carolyn Black and Virginia welcomed two more grandchildren, Adrienne and Brice. Adrienne married Ryan Jorgensen. They have two boys Kyler and Camden. After Preston's death in 1988, Virginia attended bereavement meetings. She became an active member of " The Rebuilders" group and subsequently helped many people who had lost loved ones. She was president of that organization for several years. Virginia finally learned to drive after Preston was gone. He drove her everywhere she wanted during their 42 years of marriage. This was really an accomplishment for her at age 68. Life didn't stop for Virginia. She traveled on many cruises with friends and her cousin, Sis. She went on lots of bus tours with friends always being social and loving to be on the go! The family has gratitude for all the wonderful care givers who assisted Virginia and made her last few years comfortable. A special thank you to the dedication of the Eucharistic ministers