Virginia J. Faber

June 20, 1917 - November 15, 2013

Virginia Faber passed away peacefully on Friday, November 15, 2013 at the Health Care Center of Valle Verde Retirement Community.

Virginia was the beloved daughter of Lillian and Herman Faber of Chicago, Illinois. She spent her childhood in Chicago where her father was a stockbroker and summers at her grandparent's home in Wisconsin. Virginia was a proud undergraduate of Northwestern University and earned her masters degree in Education from the University of Southern California. She was devoted to both university football teams and loved the San Francisco Forty Niners as well. She loved California and the warm weather and after graduation moved to Santa Barbara where she was an elementary music teacher in the Santa Barbara School District until her retirement. She loved children and music. Her Masters Thesis became the basis of a series of music books for children. She was a talented musician herself and played the violin. She implemented the band program for children and later in retirement began the adult orchestra classes at SBCC Adult Education. She loved all her students and worked hard to make music as much fun for them as it was for her. She was an active member of Alpha Delta Kappa sorority until just recently.

Virginia became enamored with Airedale Terriers in her retirement and she had three really nice ones before taking a detour into Welsh Terriers. She was active with Channel City Kennel Club locally and loved showing her dogs in breed and obedience.

Virginia had several best friends over the years. Unfortunately she outlived them all. In her younger days she loved to travel, taking many wonderful trips with her friends to Africa and Europe. She had a flair for investing. She flipped houses before it became fashionable. She loved fast cars and scared most of her friends with her need for speed. She did it all. She did it her way. She was truly a self made woman in a time when women weren't expected to be independent. She was eternally optimistic, even after the devastating loss of her home in the Painted Cave Fire, and inventive. She had extra time here thanks to their loving care from all the staff and nursing caregivers at Valle Verde Health Center. She had a beautiful smile and shared it with all she met.

There will be no service. If you knew her or ever had her for a teacher she would be pleased for you to make a donation to the Santa Barbara Scholarship Foundation or if you would take a child in your life to a music performance and make music in their lives possible.

Arrangements entrusted to Welch-Ryce-Haider Funeral Chapels.