Virginia May Victoria Schwartz (Rand)

Virginia May Victoria Rand Schwartz

Long time Vashon resident Virginia May Victoria Rand Schwartz, died unexpectedly and peacefully on April 13, 2014 in Palm Springs, CA where she and her husband Paul J. Schwartz, Sr. have been Snowbirds for the past 28 years.

Virginia was born in Klamath Falls, OR on June 26, 1923 to Joseph and Mable Rand.

The family moved to Vashon Heights from West Seattle when Virginia was five years old. As a young girl she loved the Vashon beaches and the friends she made along the way. She attended Vashon Elementary School and Vashon High School where she graduated with honors in the class of 1941. On February 4, 1942 she married Paul J. Schwartz, Sr., her high school sweetheart. They raised a loving family with three children – Linda, Paul Jr. and Becky. Paul Jr. proceeded his mother in death at age 52 from Leukemia. Virginia is survived by her husband Paul Sr. of Vashon Island, her sister Barbara (Rand) Walls of Hilo, HI, and daughters Linda Schwartz of Los Angeles, CA and Becky Schwartz- Hallstrom of Dunedin, FL.

She has five grandchildren, Erica Dodd, Ryan Brown, Sarah Smith, Gavin Brown and Gyasi Schwartz-Woods; and six great grandchildren, Kyla Dodd, Raymond Brown, Alexander Brown, Aster Smith, Galen Smith and Zoey Taylor Brown who will make her entrance this summer.

Virginia’s life was focused on loving and caring for her family at home. Her first job outside the home (besides berry picking on her parent’ s land as a youth), was a comptometer operator for Safeway in Seattle. Later she assisted her husband Paul in his business at the Island Insurance Center with administrative tasks. She also worked at Island Fabrics as a seamstress and at the Wall Flower in sales and flower design. Her many talents included playing trombone (in high school), gardening organic vegetables and fruits and tending her beautiful Asian landscaping, sewing everything imaginable, dancing with fellow Club 90 members, stamp collecting, card making and water color painting. Her favorite painting style was Japanese Sumi painting which she had studied extensively. She was raised in the Vashon Presbyterian Church and later she and her husband attended Bethel Church.

Virginia was fond of saying, “I have outlived my expiration date!” She truly lived a long and fulfilling life and she will be greatly missed by her family, friends and neighbors. Friends and extended family are welcome to attend a graveside tribute for Virginia on May 10th at 2:00pm at the Vashon Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Virginia Schwartz to the Alzheimer’s Association www.alz.org

Condolences can be made at www.islandfuneral.com

Paid Obituary.