Virginia Clara ”Ginny” Dolvin died June 3 at Fairhaven Adult Family Home in Oak Harbor at the age of 95.
She was born July 25, 1919, in Philadelphia, Penn., to Richard and Elsie Quimby.
Following high school, Virginia obtained her registered nursing degree at Abington Hospital, near Philadelphia.
In March of 1942, Virginia enlisted in the U.S. Navy and began a long history of service to military families.
Virginia and the other nurses received no rank and no civilian clothing. She traveled with the first SPARS (women in the U.S Coast Guard) and other women in the military from New York to San Diego on a troop train.
Her military service took her to Brooklyn, Australia, New Guinea, Treasure Island, Philadelphia, Bermuda and Oakland, transferring every 18 months. While in service, Virginia met Sheridan (Lee) Dolvin.
The Navy did not allow married females, so Virginia left active duty on the morning of December 22, 1949, with the rank of Lieutenant Commander, and that same afternoon, she and Lee were married in Oakland. Lee remained on active duty.
The Navy sent the Dolvin family to Oak Harbor in 1966 and Whidbey became home. Virginia returned to work, serving as a visiting nurse for Navy Relief. Her position was to serve military families, both active duty and retired, meeting their health care needs at home, assisting new moms in caring for their babies and serving as the first hospice nurse for retirees as they neared the end of life.
Ginny also served as a volunteer instructor for the American Red Cross, teaching first aid and CPR courses. She was also a part of the faculty for Skagit Valley College, teaching the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course.
Virginia retired from Navy Relief staff but continued to be a volunteer. She logged over 10,000 hours of volunteer service. In addition to her home visits, she was an avid knitter, making hundreds of layettes for new moms. She also enjoyed needlepoint.
For several years, she worked for Dorothy Gaethel at the yarn and knitting shop on Pioneer Way. Virginia was a longtime member and past manager of the Duplicate Bridge Club.
Virginia is survived by one daughter, Susan Dolvin of Oak Harbor; by two grandchildren, Jeff Crandall and Jessica Crandall; and great-grandchildren, Cattabrie, Gabriel and Matei. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lee, and son-in-law, Alan Harris.
Virginia requested no formal funeral services be conducted. Cremation was held. Burial at sea will follow, with full military honors under the auspices of the U.S. Navy.
Please visit Virginia’s page in the Book of Memories at www.wallinfuneralhome.com to share memories and condolences. Arrangements are entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home & Cremation, LLC, Oak Harbor.
