VIRGINIA LEE KNIRCK

9/16/1926 - 2/16/2011

Virginia (Ginger) Knirck passed away on February 16, 2011, surrounded by her family. She was born on September 16, 1926, in Chicago to Frank and Hildred Snorf. She was the second of three daughters. Ginger spent most of her youth in Englewood, Colorado, graduating with honors from South High School in Denver in 1944. Looking for adventure and something different after high school, she hopped a train for Washington, D.C., where she worked for a short time as a secretary at the Pentagon.

Meanwhile, her father took a job on the Manhattan Project, and the family moved to the Tri-Cities; Ginger followed in 1945. She settled in Richland where she married Ben Krepsky only to tragically lose him shortly into their marriage. She then met and fell in love with Rueben Knirck. Rueben and Ginger were married on February 26, 1949, in Couer d'Alene, Idaho, spent the next 61 years together, and raised three children (Bill, Sandi, and Karen).

Rueben's long career at GE involved frequent transfers, which meant that he and Ginger were able to live in a variety of places in the United States and abroad. They spent most of their lives in Richland, but also lived in Alabama, upstate New York, and Louisiana, as well as spending two stints in Spain in the early 1970s and early 1980s. Ginger enjoyed living in Spain, and made many lifelong friends there. She and Rueben also traveled to Italy and Germany while in Europe, and their house remained decorated with mementos acquired during their time in Spain.

Despite frequent moves, Ginger also had a career of her own, as she worked at (or 'ran' as she liked to say) various doctors' offices, Fischbach Lord, and the Athens Courier; but her favorite job was as the women's clothing buyer at the Bon Marche in downtown Richland, a job that suited her charming and engaging personality. While at The Bon, she traveled to fashion markets in New York and Los Angeles to obtain the latest women's styles and clothing lines for the shoppers of Richland. Ginger was a great saleswoman, and convinced many a buyer that they absolutely needed that dress. Having been a cancer survivor, she was also a volunteer at the Tri-Cities Cancer Center.

Ginger always considered Richland her home, and was glad to return when Rueben retired in 1986. In retirement, Ginger enjoyed square dancing, snow skiing, cards (poker and bridge), bingo, bowling, golf (wielding a mean Ginty 9- wood), shopping, fishing. She was also a huge fan of All My Children and was proud to tell her friends and family that she had been watching since 'the very first episode!' She and Rueben also enjoyed occasional casino trips, visits with Karen at the lake, stays with Sandi in Mukilteo, and spending time with her best friend, Edna. Always the life of the party, wherever Ginger went, fun followed.

Ginger also derived much joy from, and loved to brag about, her eight amazing grandchildren: Jason (and Mari) Knirck, Amie (and David) Waters, Stacey (and Paul) Morrison, Tyson (and Hayley) Bushnell, Michael (and Elizabeth) Parker, Daniel Schmidt (and Jenn), Jocelyn (and Nat) Roe, and Sarah Schmidt. Her eyes would sparkle when she visited with, and spoke of, her fourteen great-grandchildren: Justin, Kendra, Riley, Ethan, T.J., Lila, Kylee, Rian, Kyla, Hayden, Mackenzie, Derrek, Beau, and Dylan.

In addition to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she is survived by her daughters Sandi (and Richard) Schmidt, and Karen (and Jim) Parker; and her daughter-in-law Teresa Knirck. She is also survived by her younger sister Sharon (and Rowland) Griffith, sister-in-law Joyce (Marion) Blank, brother-inlaw Doug Knirck, sister-in-law Marion Morey, as well as many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Rueben, her dear son Bill, her sister Betty Snorf, and her parents.

There will be a celebration of Ginger's long and happy life on Sunday 2/27 at 11 a.m. at Sunset Memorial Events Center.

Her family is at peace knowing that she is now reunited with Rueben, who upon seeing her again undoubtedly exclaimed, 'Jeezus Virginia, what took you so long!!' Ginger, Mom, Grandma, GrandmaGreat ... Until We Meet Again!