Our sweet mother, grandmother, GG and friend peacefully passed away on Monday, September 19,2022 at Creekside Assisted Living Center. Her friendship, gentle ways, extraordinary grandmotherly actions, love and care will be greatly missed. She was always very supportive and thoughtful of others.
Virginia was born May 20, 1933, in Salt Lake City, Utah to Wilford W. Kimball and Ruth Burton Kimball. She grew up in the Sugarhouse area and raised her family in the same area. She attended South High School, and was a lifelong member of the Sugarhouse Stake, growing up in the Richards Ward and spent married years in the Hawthorne Ward. She has a great deal of love for those wards and area. So many of her special lifetime friends came from that area, including her sweetheart, Raymond Keith Johnson, She and Ray were married for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple on November 15, 1951. Together they raised 6 Children: Kathy, Keith, Kristine. Karen, Klaudia, and Kevin.
Virginia loved the gospel of Jesus Christ with all her heart. As a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints, she served faithfully her whole life in many callings. She especially loved serving in the Primary and Relief Society in her Ward and Stake. Her passion was to serve and love others. Virginia was also an active member of the Daughter of the Utah Pioneers. She also enjoyed her book clubs.
Virginia was the best of the best when it came to her homemaking skills. She made the best dinners - always served at 5:00 pm. Sunday roast beef with mashed potatoes and rolls was a tradition. Her quilting was her passion. Ray and Virginia had an amazing piece of Mountain property "Johnson's Mountain.'' There they loved to entertain for family reunions, ward parties, neighborhood parties and just a favorite getaway.
While Ray was still alive, they worked on so many fun wood projects together. Ray would cut the wood and Virginia would tole paint them. Then they would have a small boutique in their home and sell many of their creations. This was such a happy season for them.
Virginia hand quilted a quilt for each of her 6 children, 28 grandchildren and also many of her great-grandchildren. She also had a great passion for making wedding cakes and creative birthday cakes. She was able to continue this tradition until her eyesight became so bad that she couldn't do it anymore. She made hundreds and hundreds of wedding cakes.
Virginia began collecting snowmen in her early 60s and this blossomed into a full snowman snow hill in her dining room every Christmastime. There were hundreds of snowmen on display and the newspaper even featured her one year for her collection. The snowmen theme also led into a December party for married grandchildren and their spouses with an amazing dinner, games with their cousins and snowmen favors and treats--including lots of laughter. It was a very favorite tradition held for many years and loved by the grandkids.
Most of all, Virginia had a deep love and commitment to her love and testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Her whole life was centered around being the best Christ-like person she could possibly be. That knowledge gave her so much peace, joy and love to sustain her for many years.
Virginia is survived by five of her children, Kathy (Ray) Fisher, Keith (Lauri) Johnson, Kristine (Ken) McQuivey, Klaudia (Ed) Twitchell, Kevin (Marilee) Johnson, 28 grandchildren, 66 great-grandchildren (with one more on the way) and her first great-great-grandchild due in March. Brothers, Frank Kimball and Wayne Kimball.
Preceded in death by her sweetheart Raymond K. Johnson, daughter Karen Bigelow, grandchildren Jessica Bigelow, Seth Bigelow and Charlotte Sink, brother Kenneth Kimball and sister Ardith K. DeLaMare.
Funeral services will be held Saturday October 1, 2022 at 11:00 am at the Hawthorne Ward, 808 East Roosevelt Avenue (1455 South). Friends may visit from 9:30 - 10:45 am prior to the service on Saturday. Interment is at Wasatch Lawn Memorial.
Please celebrate Virginia's life by spending time with your family and eating a nice roast beef dinner together.
My sweet, beautiful friend you blessed our families lives and we love you dearly forever! Sending much love, hugs, prayers and deepest sympathy to all.
Such a sweet sweet Daughter if our Heavenly Father .. she was my back door neighbor when she lived in her home in Salt Lake. She moved into the Assisted Living and I missed seeing her. I then moved last year but I thought of her often. She is back with Ray and her Family and watching over all of us. Loved her so much
So very sorry to hear about your dear mom. She meant so many to me. I feel like I’ve lost another big sister. My heart is broken. Love to all of you.
Love you grandma! I will always cherish our time together, visiting or just talking on the phone. I know this is what you’ve wanted for so long. I’m sure you had an amazing reunion with my mom and grandpa! Miss you so much!
Heaven has another sweet and beautiful angel. Virginia has been my friend for many years. She has always been so kind and caring to everyone. I have always admired her beautiful ceramic work and other craft items. Until we meet again my friend I love you.
Oh, what a loss! She's one of the dearest people I've ever known. I'm sending my love to each one of you in the Johnson family.
She will be dearly missed! I’m so glad my children got to know her I loved that she had her great grandchildren call her Grandma Great. We always had fun at her snowman parties. Thinking of you all.
I was so fortunate to be neighbors with dear Virginia for many years. She was such a delightful neighbor, and always so interested to hear about my garden, or how my dogs were doing. I always appreciated her peaceful attitude, and wide acceptance for everyone in our little community on Sherman Ave. Virginia was just the sweetest person, and I am so grateful that I knew her.
All of us from the Eagle Condor Family send our love and prayers for you and your family. She obviously was an amazing woman because she made you, you!