Virginia Lee Kellum

1933 - 2015

BORN

1933

DIED

2015

Virginia Kellum Obituary

Name: Memorial service for Virginia Lee Kellum
Start: 2015-08-30T21:00:00.000Z
Location: Bellevue First Presbyterian Church,

Virginia Lee Kellum

Virginia Lee Kellum, age 81, died at the North Creek Assisted Living Community in Bothell, Washington on Saturday, July 25, 2015.

Virginia was born on December 24, 1933, the youngest of three children, in Wichita, Kansas. Her parents were Homer Slattery and Emmeline Laura Slattery.

As a teenager, Virginia moved to California, and later, as a young adult, to the Oregon Coast. She first married young and gave birth to two sons, Richard and Gerald (Jerry) and then later divorced. Virginia was a hard worker with a sharp mind and was an accomplished medical secretary. In 1966, she married widower Robert (Bob) E. Kellum, M.D. and, along with her own two sons, raised his four children as her own. The family moved to Bellevue in 1969. Virginia was active in Bellevue First Presbyterian Church in choir, cooking for youth group, and in couples' ministry with Bob.

Virginia enjoyed travel, reading, cooking and expressed her creativity in crocheting, quilting and decorating. She and Bob lived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for seven years while working at the King Faisal Medical Center.

Virginia is predeceased by her sons, Richard and Jerry, and survived by son Rob of Issaquah, WA; daughter Laura (Bruce) of Kansas City, KS; son Rick (Lisa) of Lynnwood, WA; and Lynn of Redmond, WA. She has eight grandchildren: Scott and Katie of Washington; Ben and Zach of Colorado; Nathan, Gabe, Nicolas, and Mallory of Washington.

A memorial service with be held at Bellevue First Presbyterian Church, on Sunday, August 30, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. A reception will follow at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts are welcome and may be sent to Union Gospel Mission of Seattle.

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

Published by The Seattle Times from Aug. 28 to Aug. 29, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for Virginia Kellum

Sponsored by The Family.

1 Entry

Laura Elliott

September 7, 2015

There are so many things in my life to be grateful for, but when I look at life from a broad perspective there are certain people and events that particularly stand out as extraordinary. These I count as blessings which shaped who I am and open my eyes to the beautiful way God has graciously been involved in our family's life.
My mom, Virginia Kellum, was one of the greatest of those blessings.
When she stepped into my life when she married our dad, I was a hurting, scared little eight year old. We had lost our mother to cancer a couple years before that and I was thrilled to welcome her as my new mom. I'm so thankful for the way she bravely and confidently took on the role. She wasn't pushy, but at least from what I saw, neither did she waver in seeing her responsibilities and moving forward to fulfill them. From the beginning, I never felt like a step-child. We were all her kids and she loved us the same as she loved her two sons Richard and Jerry. She made our birthdays and Christmases special, and did it with such a cheerful attitude.
One fond memory that comes to mind about her is the way she was always singing! She had a beautiful voice! Of course, when I was a pre-teen I was embarrassed during carpool when she burst into a song from a hit musical in front of my friends! Now I look back and laugh! I also remember the way she used to sing at times as she was working in the kitchen. And, especially, every Christmas Eve afternoon when she disappeared into her bedroom to wrap scores of presents. When I heard her singing it sounded like she was having so much fun! Now, you need to know that December 24th was her birthday. It never occurred to me then that this was the way she was choosing to spend her birthday: doing something for us instead of for herself.
But she knew how to keep us in line, too! She had to with six kids! She seemed to know just what each of us needed. I'll never forget the Look. Just one of those and I knew something worse was coming if I didn't shape up, so I was quick to get back into line! She could also snap her fingers in an incredibly loud way when she wanted our attention .for example, when we started poking each other and making noise when she was on the phone! I never did figure out how she got her fingers to make that loud popping noise! And sure, she was like other moms in the way she would yell at us at times, but I always knew she loved us and I didn't want to disappoint her.
Her loving influence continued after I became an adult, too. When we had our first son Ben, she wasn't able to be there, but she called every Saturday and we talked for hours. She also sent baby clothes that she had made or bought. She could hardly wait until we got to Seattle and she could see him and wrap him up in her arms. At the time we lived abroad, so when we had our second son Zach we were back here in Seattle, and we stayed with her in her condo. She was eager to welcome him into our family and loved to cuddle him. She was a huge help to me and to his older brother who was making the adjustment to having a new family member. She loved being a grandma and was generous and loving to her all of eight grandchildren!
I'm so thankful for my mom. She was such an involved, loving part of my life over these past 50 years. And she was my friend! I can think of few things more beautiful than the way God brought her into our lives!

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