Virginia Marie Skelton

Virginia Marie Skelton, 87, of Grants Pass died April 27, 2013 at her home. She was lovingly surrounded by family and close friends during the last days of her life. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, May 26 at 2:00 p.m. at Calvary Chapel Grants Pass with Pastor Denny Stahl officiating. A reception at the church will immediately follow the service. Private internment will take place in Los Gatos, California at a later date. Stephens Family Chapel is in charge of local arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family at stephensfc.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Calvary Chapel Grants Pass, 269 West Harbeck Road, Grants Pass 97527, or Asante Hospice, Rogue Valley Medical Center Foundation, 2600 Siskyiou Blvd, Suite 100, Medford, OR. Virginia was born to Fred and Naomi Buffaloe in Jackson, Tennessee on September 22, 1925, with five siblings. After being raised on a farm in Jackson, Tennessee, Virginia met Gale "Ted" Skelton, and they married in 1944. After World War II, they moved to San Jose, California, and it was there that their family was "planted" and grew. The love of her life, "Ted" Skelton, passed away in October 1984. Virginia spent most of her adult life in San Jose, California, retiring from Santa Clara Valley Medical Center Accounts Payable in 1988. She won numerous awards during her tenure at SCVMC because of her attention to detail, her amazing ability to supervise people, and her sparkling personality. In raising her family, she was Boy Scout den mother, Girl Scout leader, team mother, room mother, seamstress for her girls' dance costumes, and supported all of her children in their various endeavors all during their school years. She worked full time when the children were older, but never neglected their emotional, spiritual and physical support. She was a terrific mother. Virginia moved to the Rogue Valley in 1988 and immediately became involved in the community. She delivered for "Meals on Wheels", was a member of the newly formed "Senior Singles", played golf and bowled, worked as an attendant at many of the RCC "bowl" musicals, attended Newman United Methodist Church, then Calvary Chapel of Grants Pass, and Calvary Lutheran Church adjacent to her apartment at Rogue Valley Retirement. She loved her church family and her friends. She never missed the Boatnik parade, the "cruise nights", the summer concerts in the park at Riverside Park. She so enjoyed attending church, and loved to talk about her love of The Lord. Virginia cherished her family first and foremost. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She enjoyed travel, taking many cruises with friends and family, traveling across the USA, Hawaii, Alaska, Europe, and South America. She was tireless in her preparation of food for friends and family events, and loved to have Christmas Eve (or any) celebrations in her home. In addition to her social and volunteer work, Virginia enjoyed crochet, ceramics and making greeting cards with her computer. In 2011, she moved to Rogue Valley Retirement, and enjoyed the time she was able to spend with her friends, playing cards, going on excursions, Bible studies, and generally the companionship of her contemporaries from "the Greatest Generation". Health issues in late 2012 brought her to live with her daughter and son-in-law in Grants Pass, where she spent the remainder of her days, receiving visits from family and friends and being lovingly cared for by her family and wonderful caregivers, Shaun Smith, Claire Ahriana, Vicki Dresselhaus, Ophelia Sanchez, and Rosa Dias. Virginia is survived by four of her children; Kipp Skelton of Wilderville, Oregon; Sandy Fisher-McKenna (Marty McKenna) of Grants Pass, Oregon; Jeff Skelton (Jenny Skelton) of Tracy, California; and Rochelle Lewis of Port Orchard, Washington. Also surviving is daughter-in-law, Rebecca Skelton, of Tracy, California, brothers Charles Buffaloe of Memphis, Tennessee and Frank Buffaloe, of Florida, as well as numerous (well loved) nieces and nephews. She leaves 18 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild. Two sons, Robin Lee Skelton and Corey Laine Skelton, two daughters-in-law Kim Skelton and Linda "Lou" Skelton, one son-in-law, Gary E. Fisher, two sisters and one brother preceded her in death.

Service Information

Sunday, May 26th, 2013 2:00pm, Calvary Chapel of Grants Pass