Virginia Mary Wilson Van Ocker, 90, of Baker City, died Jan. 29, 2005, at Boise after a long illness.
Her memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Pastor Ralph Holcomb will officiate. There will be a reception afterward at the funeral home.
Virginia was born at Seattle, Wash., on June 3, 1914, to Otis and Hulda Wilson. She was the second of five children. At the age of 2, she moved with her family to Milton-Freewater. She attended all 12 years of school at Milton-Freewater, graduating from Mac-Hi in 1932.
She married Elmer Van Ocker on Sept. 30, 1933, at Walla Walla, Wash. They lived at Milton, Adams, and Athena before moving to Haines in 1955 where she was employed at the post office. In 1971, they moved to Baker City where she was employed by the Baker County Education Service District in the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) program as the coordinator of youth employment.
Her job was to encourage students to stay in school and to complete their education through work/study programs in the community. She retired in 1985 at the age of 70.
As devoted parents and grandparents, Virginia and Elmer enjoyed many camping trips and teaching all the grandchildren how to fish.
It was said, “Virginia could outfish the best of them!” Her home was always open to her family and friends. She loved cooking, and sewing, especially her handcrafted sweatshirts and beautiful quilts.
Survivors include two sons, Garry Van Ocker and his wife, Joan, of Athena, and Steve Van Ocker and his wife, Barbara, of Boise; daughter, Joan Rice of Athena; grandchildren, Mark Van Ocker and his wife, Allison, of Milton-Freewater, Megan Peterson and her husband, Bryan, of Gig Harbor, Wash., Scott Van Ocker and his wife, Tracy, and Amber Van Ocker, all of Boise, and Jim Rice and his wife, Lori, of Sanford, Fla.; great-grandchildren, Kailey and Camden Van Ocker of Milton-Freewater, Ainsley Peterson of Gig Harbor, Wash., Paige and Demi Van Ocker of Boise, and Clay and Jake Rice of Sanford, Fla.; and a sister, Margurette Smith of Spokane, Wash.
She was preceded in death by her husband in 2001; her parents; two brothers, Ray Wilson and Dale Wilson; and a sister, Donna Bline.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Senior Center through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, February 3, 2005
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor