Virginia Shone Balzer

Virginia Balzer Shone passed away peacefully March 11, 2025 in Santa Rosa, California at the age of 89. Virginia was born in Napa, California on August 25, 1935 to William and Bertha Pate. They lived in Vallejo, California and in 1946 they moved to a 30 acre ranch in Sebastopol, California. Virginia attended a kindergarten through eighth grade one room school house where she graduated from the 8th grade in 1949 along with five other classmates. That summer Virginia worked at her Aunt Laura's "Laura's Grill and Fountain" 24 hour restaurant in Cloverdale. That fall she attended Analy High School and also joined Rainbow Girls. At the start of her Freshman year her dad bought her a horse and six milk cows in which she would have to wake up early every morning before school and do the milking and again do the milking that evening. Her dad sold the milk to the Clover Milk Company and gave Virginia half of the Clover milk money each week. During her Sophomore summer she picked berries and during her Junior and Senior summers she packed apples for the Sebastopol Fruit Growers Association. She graduated from Analy High School in 1953. After graduating, she went on to the Santa Rosa Junior College studying secretarial. Virginia met Harvey Balzer, who was in the US Navy and they married in 1954 at the Methodist Church in Sebastopol. Being in the Navy, they moved various places, but finally settled back in the country in Sebastopol where they raised four children. When Virginia's father passed away her mother remarried Elmer Garrison and Virginia became part of a large extended family of stepsister's which included the Gerboth's, Hearst's, Mann's and Volkert's families which now included bigger family gatherings. Virginia was active in many different groups; Twin Hills Fire Auxiliary, PTA President, sewing group, bunco group, senior center, and many different card groups. She was also a 50 year pin holder with Eastern Star. Virginia loved country living and raising her family. She enjoyed tending to her garden, cooking, family gatherings, parties, and potlucks. Her husband Harvey passed away in 1981. She married her second husband Dick Shone in 2007. Virginia is proceeded in death by Harvey L. Balzer, her second husband Dick Shone, and her son Ronald Balzer. She is survived by her daughter Cheryl Gripe (Brett), her son Gary Balzer (Rikki), her son Alan Balzer (Kelly), along with grandchildren and great grandchildren. Virginia loved potlucks and per her wishes family and friends are invited to celebrate her life at a potluck on her family property on August 9, 2025, for more information contact [email protected]. Donations can be made in her honor to the Gold Ridge Firefighters Association, 1690 Watertrough Rd., Sebastopol, CA 95472.