Virginia Eisenlohr

Virginia Eisenlohr Virginia Lee Eisenlohr of Eugene, Oregon passed away peacefully of natural causes on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at the age of 91. She was born Virginia Lee Hess January 1, 1924 in Seattle, Washington to parents Charles Everett and Violet Merrie Hess (‘nee Smith). She grew up as the eldest of two during the tough depression years. Virginia and her brother Robin used to love to make ice cream in the summer months of those times. It was just milk and sugar; they put it in the freezer to make it a little firmer, not quite actually frozen. A similar way of making a dessert was their graham cracker pudding. This was done by, putting some graham crackers in a bowl and adding enough milk to give it a pudding consistency! As she, was graduating from Lincoln high school she enjoyed modeling the latest fashions, for Frederick & Nelson Department Store. The following year she enrolled at University of Washington, to study English and was an active member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority. She also she met Kermit Eisenlohr who she married on June 15, 1949. The couple eventually had four children; three boys, and one girl and later added one to the family by taking in a young boy who needed a family and a home to call his own. As her children reached grade school age, she decided re-enter the work force, as a secretary in the Vancouver, Washington school district in 1967. The family moved to Albany, Oregon in 1971, she was hired to work at Oregon State University in the Financial Aid Department. Not only was it a wonderful job, she made life long friends who remained a part of her life following her retirement in 1989. Virginia also pursued many hobbies, she loved reading, knitting, gardening, cross-stitching, playing golf, attending sporting events, (especially when her Washington Huskies were playing, and winning!). After retirement she enjoyed road trips with Kerm, playing bridge, and hosting dinner parties with good friends. After the passing her husband, she enjoyed traveling to Alaska, Hawaii, Hong Kong, Thailand and Europe. When she moved to Eugene, Oregon, even though it wasn’t Italy- she loved going to King Estates Winery, in the Loraine Valley, for a special lunch, with a glass of Pinot Gris, this became an instant favorite event. Virginia took to computers and the Internet with ease, she could type like lightning and her grammar was meticulous. It gave her great joy, using her special gift to proofread and edit her grandchildren’s school papers from 1st grade through college. While she enjoyed visits and cherished every moment with her four oldest grandchildren, Virginia was particularly thrilled with the addition of a new grandson, Theodore Eisenlohr, to carry on the family name in 2013. She watched Theo grow on her IPad with weekly Face Time chats. If you were to ask Virginia, what her favorite job in the world was, she would have likely answer, “Just being a full-time mom and homemaker!” Family, friends and the quest for knowledge was her compass. She left a legacy of love, self-worth, and positivity in the hearts and souls of almost everyone she encountered. She did this by maintaining an open door to her house of warmth and humor to her family, friends, and children’s friends. To this day, many consider Virginia to be their second mom and mentor. Her brother, Robin Hess and his wife Arlene (‘nee Phillips) of Vashon, Washington survive Virginia. Also surviving Virginia are her, three sons, Jay Eisenlohr and his wife Carol (“nee Jacobsen) of Portland Oregon, Fred Eisenlohr and his wife Jocelyn (‘nee Adams) of Hermosa Beach, California, Cary Eisenlohr of Signal Hill, California, and her daughter Jody Stokes (‘nee Eisenlohr) and her husband Timothy of Eugene, Oregon. Five grandchildren Erica Christianson (‘nee Eisenlohr) and husband Jeff, Bailey Stokes Vaught, John Stokes and wife Kate (‘nee Compton), David Stokes and Theodore Eisenlohr. Proceeded in death by her husband, Kermit L. Eisenlohr, July 25th, 1998, her additional son, Delvin Foshay, August 14, 2000 and her granddaughter’s husband Mark A. Vaught, November 5, 2014.