Virginia Kesting Obituary

Virginia Kesting was born Virginia Diedrich in Oxnard in 1922. She attended Santa Clara Grammar School and Santa Clara High School. Her best friend was Dorothy Fisher. The two of them were inseparable; they loved each other as only best friends can.

She married Robert Kesting in 1946 and she had two children, Linda and Robert. Her marriage to Robert was quite interesting... Virginia lost her father when she was quite young leaving her mother a widow. Robert lost his mother just after he graduated high school leaving his father a widower. While Robert was in the South Pacific during World War II, his father met Virginia's mother and they ultimately were married. When Robert returned from military service he met Virginia and they too were ultimately married. So in fact, they were stepbrother and sister!

Virginia was a great mother and wife. In an age when women were most commonly stay at home moms, she was the quintessential "mom". She arguably made the best bologna sandwich in the neighborhood. She took great joy in her skills as a cook; her meatloaf was out of this world! As odd as this sounds, she loved doing laundry. Her smile at the washing machine was almost as bright as her smile at her stove.

As a family the Kestings spent many vacations in the Eastern Sierras. Virginia loved her time spent in the Big Pine, Bishop and Mammoth Lakes areas. When her children were very young they had a small trailer and would park it along Big Pine Creek. She took great satisfaction in preparing the trout that her husband caught for dinner. In later years she insisted on staying at Glacier Lodge west of Big Pine, or at any number of hotels in the Bishop or Mammoth Lakes areas.

Virginia loved movies. Her favorite cable TV station was Turner Classic Movies. Her favorite actress was Betty Davis. She always said that Betty Davis could say more with her facial expressions than any other actress could say with a thousand words. She also loved bad boy Jack Nicholson. One of her favorites was Five Easy Pieces.

Virginia also loved trips taken to Las Vegas with her childhood best friend Dorothy Case. Virginia, Dorothy, Robert and Harold would play slot machines, black jack and enjoy the nightlife of the city. Virginia very much enjoyed the dinner shows that Las Vegas is so famous for.

Although Virginia is physically no longer with us, her heaven has rolled back the clock about 50 years and she is vacationing up Big Pine Creek at Glacier Lodge. As Virginia is hiking along the creek with her family and her dog De-De, she is happy. She knows that life is good, and she is at a wonderfully harmonious peace with her life. She has a bright smile on her face, one to challenge her smile at her washing machine or at her cook top. She is in love with her husband; she is proud of her two kids. She is looking forward to cooking up a limit of trout for their dinner.

A memorial service will be held for Virginia at 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 5 at Reardon's Mortuary, 511 North A St., Oxnard.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Ventura County Star from Feb. 4 to Feb. 7, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for Virginia Kesting

4 Entries

February 9, 2010

So very sorry to hear about your Mother's passing. Your MOM made the best sammies.
Linda, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Sincerely, Percy and Family

February 5, 2010

It was with great sadness to learn of Virginia's passing.I grew up across the alley and will always remember with fondness walking into the backyard,stepping over the dog Dee Dee and knocking on the back door. Viginia always greeted me with a smile on her face (unless it was too early). She was usually working in the kitchen, doing laundry, or just sitting at the kitchen table reading and smoking a Kent.Virginia was always cheerful and generous to the neighborhood kids and she always offered us up some treat. She was a great cook, I'll never forget her crepe Suzette. She always welcomed the neighborhood kids and had a sincere interest in what we were doing.The Kesting house was meeting place well into our teens. I had the fortune of going on several fishing trips with Bob and Virginia to Bishop and Mammoth. They both loved the outdoors and the peace it offered. I was blessed when they made a road trip to Canada and visited my family.In later years when the family had left and I was home for holidays I would go over and visit with Virginia. She always asked about what I was doing and I enjoyed her exuberance. Mr Kesting loved to dote over Ginny just as she loved to dote over others, but she deserved it for she was a queen. So many things change as time passes, but the good memories will always be good. Johnny Cooluris and Family

Maureen (Haley) Reider

February 4, 2010

My mother was Virginia Fischer Haley (Dorothy's sister). She was also a very good friend of Virginia and I have some wonderful memories of Ginny Kesting. She had a terrific sense of humor and I used to call her my Mom's crazy friend. She had a wit that couldn't be matched and told some of the best stories of when she, Dodie and Mom were young girls. She always had a smile on her face and brightened everyone's day. My Mom passed away in 2006 and I know that she and Ginny are once again laughing and telling stories. Rest in peace Ginny.

Avie Guerra

February 4, 2010

my prayers and warm thoughts for her and family

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