Virginia Sanborn

Enriched in numerous ways, the life of Virginia Sanborn was filled with the love of family, good friends, and a faith all her own. Throughout her long life, Virginia remained positive, no matter what came her way. She worked hard, gave of her time and talents, but most importantly, loved fully. Deeply missed, she will be long remembered.

Virginia's story began at summer's end just as the leaves were beginning to change into the crisp colors of fall in the community of Arlington Township, Michigan. Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President, and the dial telephone was first introduced while the pogo stick was the favorite of neighborhood children everywhere. It was an especially joyful time for Guy and Lillian (Struble) Hutchins when on September 15, 1919 they were blessed with the birth of their little girl, Virginia.

Raised alongside her three brothers, Gerald, Robert, and Donald, Virginia learned the value of hard work from her earliest beginnings. Her father was a farmer, while her mother worked as a nurse. While growing up, Virginia's childhood was filled enjoying playful adventures with her brothers and neighborhood friends.

During her teen and young adult years, Virginia did her share of work on the farm. She also loved dancing, and spending time with friends, especially a young man named Lyle Sanborn. She had met Lyle through mutual friends while attending a dance.

Virginia spent her early educational years attending a country schoolhouse until the seventh grade when she transferred to Lawrence Public Schools. For her senior year, she went on to Bangor Public Schools where she attended with her brother Gerald as he wanted to play sports at Bangor. Virginia went on to graduate from Bangor High School with the Class of 1936.

Throughout the years, Virginia and Lyle's friendship blossomed to include love. On December 2, 1938 they exchanged vows of marriage in a quaint, country ceremony surrounded by family and friends.

Virginia and Lyle's lives were equally blessed with the births of their four children, Judy, Joyce, Tom and Sue who added much to their lives. Virginia loved making a good home for her family, and did so exceptionally well. She was very involved with her children when they were growing up. She not only served as a den leader for her son Tom's cub scout troops, but also as a 4H leader and Sunday school teacher.

Gingerbread cookies were always the kid's favorite. And when in elementary school, they seemed to always sign her up to make them. Virginia didn't mind, and even made them in the shape of Santa Claus heads which she lovingly decorated with numerous colors of frosting for a realistic looking Santa.

A woman of faith, Virginia joined the Lawrence United Methodist Church with Lyle where she faithfully made prayer shawls for the church. Along with raising her family and many activities, Virginia also worked outside the home. After 23 years of service, she retired from American National Bank as a bank teller. Never one to shy away from hard work, Virginia helped her husband Lyle farm their two farms where they raised apples and grew varieties of vegetables. They also harvested strawberries, grain crops, and had several heads of milking cows before moving on to feeder cows.

With their kids grown with lives of their own, Virginia and Lyle spent 25 years in Floral City, Florida. Often times, family and friends came to visit and together they would enjoy trips to Disney World and the beaches in Clearwater.

Following Lyle's death, Virginia's faith and positive demeanor saw her through. For five years she lived in Lakeland, Florida with her daughter, Judy and her husband, Phil, as well as Sue and her husband, Harold. Until the age of 75, Virginia kept active playing golf at Lake Cora Hills. She loved golfing, and her love of dancing remained which was evident when she became involved with the Town Country Dance Club in Lawrence. She did a little traveling, but one of her more memorable trips was to Switzerland with close friends, Lee and Flossie Hutchins.

Virginia was always up for a good game of Dominoes or a card game. She loved playing cards anytime family and friends got together. In her free time, she enjoyed gardening, knitting, and crocheting among other crafts. The Detroit Tigers was her favorite team, and when it came to game shows, Virginia faithfully watched the Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy, daily. She was also fond of several other games shows on GSN, the Game Show Network. The Lawrence Welk Show was by far one of her favorite programs, and she even liked the reruns.

Virginia shared her heart and soul with the family she adored, especially her grandchildren. She was sure to have made some of their favorite treats when they came to visit including her special applesauce, delicious fudge, homemade cookies and rice crispy treats. Virginia always enjoyed having family over for Sunday dinners and made the most wonderful roasts, meatloaves, mashed potatoes and vegetables. Of course, she always topped off her meals by providing a yummy dessert such as her son, Tom's favorite, Moon Cake.

In Virginia's later years, a stroke made life more challenging, but her positive attitude remained constant. Even during her many rehabilitation exercises and having to move to an assisted living facility, her outlook remained bright. For all of her love, and for all of her giving, it was these things and so much more that made Virginia Sanborn so well loved and admired by the many who called her wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend.

At the age of 94, Virginia Sanborn died on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2014 at White Oaks in Lawton. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lyle Sanborn in 2007; and by her three brothers: Gerald, Robert and Donald Hutchins. Members of her family include four children: Judy (Phil) George, Joyce (Bill) Beeching, Tom (Barb) Sanborn and Sue (Harold) Conklin; 12 grandchildren: Donna Hover, Alan (Kate) Hover, Spencer (Andrea) George, Kathy (John) Radar, Billy (Robin) Beeching, Deb (Dave) Hadley, Rich (Lorraine) Beeching, Robin (Travis) Taylor, Scott (Edda) Sanborn, Stacey Sanborn, Chad Conklin and Jeff (Jenn) Conklin; 23 great-grandchildren; 11 great-great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.

Cremation will take place. Services will be held Saturday, July 12, 2014, 11:00 AM at the Lawrence United Methodist Church with a gathering time beginning at 10:00 AM. Burial at Hill Cemetery, Lawrence. A luncheon will follow the burial at the church hall. Please visit Virginia’s personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can archive a favorite memory or photo and sign her online guestbook. Memorial contributions may be made to Lawrence United Methodist church or White Oaks Assisted Living. Arrangements by Life Story Funeral Homes, Betzler & Thompson–Paw Paw; 60900 M-40 Highway (657-3870).