Virginia Irene McIlwain Groah was born on Feb. 28, 1925 in Silverton, Oregon in the old hospital on North Water Street. Her childhood was spent on the McIlwain Farm in the North Howell area near Labish Lake. She attended North Howell School as did her father and grandmother.
In her teen years she worked in the family onion fields and later weeded and helped harvest onions for the Hayes farms. In 1941 she was attending Silverton High School when she met Glenn Groah, a fellow student. They were married while still in school and got caught up in World War II. Glenn worked in the Kaiser shipyards while Virginia became a homemaker and mother.
After the war, Virginia and Glenn moved to the farm in North Howell. In the 1970s Virginia obtained an LPN license and worked for Salem Hospital. After retirement, she and Glenn traveled with friends and spent parts of each winter in Arizona.
Glenn preceded her in death, as did her parents, George and Blanche McIlwain, and her sister Helen. Also passing before her were her first cousins Doris, Patricia, Rolleen and Nellie McIIwain who grew up on her uncle Rollie’s side of the farm. Virginia was the last North Howell McIlwain.
Virginia is survived by her sons Danny (Linda), Edward (Londa) and Mitchell Groah, three grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, and three great-great- grandchildren.
A graveside service was held on Aug. 27 at Pioneer Memorial Cemetery in the Brooks area.
Memorials may be given to Pioneer Memorial Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 9134, Brooks, OR 97305, or donate to the charity of your choice.
