Virginia DuBose

Virginia May Hartung DuBose

 November 28, 1932 - July 29, 2025

Virginia was born to Mabel and August Hartung in Richmond, California, where she lived until she was 17. She spoke adoringly of her parents and her only sibling, August Hartung, Jr. and she has often shared many memories of a happy family life. Graduating high school early and beginning her career in administrative positions in San Francisco, she met the love of her life, Donald Thomas DuBose, a USN Sailor in 1950. They married in March, 1951.

 Virginia and Donald raised their four young children in Concord, California. Moving to Livermore in 1962, they made their home in a lovely country house on the Cresta Blanca Winery property overlooking vineyards and cow pastures. Virginia was a master weed puller, homemaker, mother, and wife. She soon began working part-time at the office of Drs. Hawley and Donaldson, as the Office Manager. She became very knowledgeable of not only administrative business matters, but of the pediatric profession and medical practices. 

While raising teenagers, she worked for the president of a large local car leasing agency, followed by holding several senior administrative staff positions at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. She retired early and followed her instincts, moving to her’s and Donald’s newly-built oceanfront home in Albion, California. She convinced Donald to retire early, and at 55 years of young, they become artists, bread makers, regular Church members, and beach-goers. Pottery, painting, cross-stitching, and stained glass art was created, with large-stained glass windows made for and mounted in their church.

 Over the course of 30 years, their children married and nine grandchildren were born. Virginia had special relationships which each of them and was a professional Grandma, hosting their visits to their home, both in Albion and Grants Pass, Oregon where they moved in 2001. She always remembered special occasions and every family member received her traditionally happy birthday song on their birthday.

 The move to Oregon was an adventuresome time for Virginia and Donald, where they continued their skillsets and hobbies. They joined, and were very active in the church near their home. Virginia taught Children’s Sunday School and made multiple dozens of cookies every Sunday for them. She hand sewed pillowcases and potholders for charity and became part of numerous activities with other members.

 Years continued to bring 12 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. On her 90th birthday, family came to Grants Pass from around the country and abroad to celebrate her legacy. 

 Virginia loved Donald with the intensity of a forever-first love and strengthened that bond when she became Donald’s lifeline for nine years following his diagnosis with Alzheimers. His passing in 2016 proved her inner strength twofold. She greatly missed Donald, but she continued on, solely running the large home they had created.

 She herself knew when to move to a Retirement Living Facility and her home became a two-bedroom apartment where she still hosted overnight family members who enjoyed visiting and watching her favorite DVDs, listening to her political views, numerous jokes, and family stories. She again showed her tenacity recovering from pacemaker surgery and a broken collarbone. She moved again to an Assisted Living Facility last year, where she peacefully passed to her heavenly life after a battle with a tired heart.

 Virginia is the matriarch of the DuBose Clan and will be forever in our hearts. She’s forever watching over us, and when we hear and feel her presence in the ways we live our lives, we know we will never lose our mother, our grandmother, and our great grandmother.

 Virginia loved books and had a soft spot for children’s books. In her honor, donations in Virginia’s name are most welcome for the Madrona Elementary School Library, 520 Derrick Drive, Grants Pass, OR 97527. The family will hold a Family-only Celebration of Life in the coming months.

Please leave a memory of Virginia in her Guestbook.