Virginia Marie Crabtree of Lynden passed away on Friday, March 10, 2017 at Peace Health St. Joseph Hospital in Bellingham after a sudden medical crisis. She was 84.
Virginia was born on Aug. 13, 1932 in Navy Yard City (Bremerton) to parents Isabel White and Walter Larson. She lived there until her parents divorced and her mother remarried. Her family moved to Lynden in 1947 where she lived the rest of her life. She graduated from Lynden High School in 1950. On Nov. 15, 1950 she married Gene Crabtree and they raised six children on their farm on West Main Street, Lynden. Virginia and Gene enjoyed antiquing together with friends and were fortunate to be able to travel to Hawaii, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands.
Virginia served many years on the board of directors of her condominium and the Lynden Senior Center. She served a term as the Lynden representative on the Whatcom Council on Aging. She was a member of Ferndale TOPS Group 267 for 20 years, serving as their president and weight recorder. She also spent 20 years making quilts with the Quilt Makers group at the Lynden Senior Center.
Virginia enjoyed clam digging, fishing and camping. She loved sewing, knitting, basket-making, carving and jewelry-making. She was a master gardener and practiced organic gardening before it became popular. She was an excellent cook and an avid reader. She played bridge almost every week.
Virginia will be remembered for her calm demeanor, quick wit and her sweet spirit.
Virginia is survived by her children, Nikki Crabtree, Jeanne Crabtree (Bob Petersen), Cathy Crabtree, Dan Crabtree (Debbie), Jennifer Crabtree and Becky Crabtree; grandchildren Neal Koning, Lea Sadler (Justin Dahl), Rachel Weidkamp, (Clint), Ben Kleindel and Jonathan Crabtree (Melissa); great-grandchildren Rebecca, Christina and Levi Weidkamp, and Osiris Dahl; half-brothers Vic and Bill Larson; sister-in-law Lil Larson; niece Carrie Larson; and several cousins in the Seattle area.
She was predeceased by her husband Gene Crabtree, brother Richard Louis Larson and nephew Richard Larson.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Virginia’s memory to the Lynden Senior Center.
Memorial services will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 25, in the Lynden Senior Center, 401 Grover St., Lynden.
