VIRGINIA PHELPS MEUX

1913 - 2015

Virginia Phelps Meux was born at home in Berkeley, CA, on September 2, 1913, to Ralph Larose Phelps, and Florence Alice Boone Phelps. She died peacefully on October 16, 2015, in El Cerrito, CA. In between, she lived a full, loving, and rewarding life of 102 years. Virginia remained vibrant throughout her life as evidenced in the accompanying photo taken last year on her 101 year birthday. Her family felt blessed to have her back in the San Francisco Bay Area during the past three years. Virginia spent 72 years in Fresno, where she resided with her husband, William Meux, and raised four children. She and Bill, college sweethearts, married in November of 1940, after he graduated from UC Hastings College of Law, and she worked for the Pacific Bell phone company in San Francisco. Their home on Huntington Boulevard was a focal point for family gatherings, holiday parties and warm welcomes anytime of the year. She will live forever in our hearts and be deeply missed. Virginia attended Anna Head School in Berkeley, as did her own mother. She graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, in the Class of 1935, with a major in political science. She always felt that she might have chosen a better major, such as geology or architecture, two life long interests, because the world was so changed after World War II. She loved living in Fresno and was fully engaged in the community. She was a member of the Monday Study Club, the Fresno Garden Club and two bridge clubs, which each met monthly for over 60 years. She volunteered in schools from elementary to Fresno City College, served as a polling booth inspector during Fresno County elections, and supported the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority at Fresno State. Virginia loved making new friends through her activities. She was an early member of the Service League of Fresno, later to become the Junior League of Fresno. She became the president of the Junior League and enthusiastically supported and preformed in its Follies. While in her late 80's, Virginia continued to share her love for reading by volunteering in Ellen Kunz's third grade class at Jackson Elementary School. For many years she read to children and listened as they read to her. The school library is named in her honor. Neighborhood children, going to and from school, knew that a friendly Block Parent lived on the corner of Seventh and Huntington. Often you would hear "Hello, Mrs. Meux" as they walked by. Virginia's lifelong volunteer passion was the Valley Children's Hospital. She was a founding member of the Holiday Guild, first selling Christmas cards door to door, then serving as President and working for over five years as Manager of the guild's Holiday Boutique Gift Shop. Virginia was a natural at public relations and gift merchandising and here she honed her marketing and supervisory skills. She served on the Coordinating Council of the hospital's guilds. Virginia took her last full-time paying job at the age of 75, when she became Manager of the Valley Children's Hospital Gift Shop on Millbrook Avenue. Here she took a small card shop and built it into an impressive fundraising stream for the hospital, which annually raised tens of thousands of dollars. She remained in this job for 10 years. Virginia, as well as her family, took great pride in the transformation she accomplished as Manager and the growth of support for the hospital. Virginia was preceded in death by her husband William; her son, Peter Cooper Meux; daughter-in-law Elizabeth Rowland Meux; her brother, Ralph Larose Phelps, Jr. of Berkeley; and sisters, Leslie Phelps Henderson of San Francisco and Carmel, and Shirley Phelps Price of Piedmont. Virginia is survived by her children, Richard Phelps Meux and Kate McCormick of Mill Valley, CA, Jennifer Meux White and husband Marshall, and Harriet Hopkins Meux of Kensington, CA. She also is survived by grandchildren, Brian and wife Betsy, Stephanie, Rebecca and Katie and Eric Thaut; and greatgrandchildren, Melissa, Jason and Eli Peter; as well as beloved nieces, nephews, and their children. Forty one family members gathered in September to celebrate her 102nd birthday. Her family wishes to express its deepest thanks to the entire staff of El Cerrito Royale Assisted Living Residence, and especially her caregivers. Their dedicated care and support are greatly appreciated. At her request, there will be no memorial service. The family will hold a Celebration of Virginia's Life at a later date. Those wishing to make a donation in her honor are asked to give to the Guilds of Valley Children's Hospital, 9300 Valley Children's Place, Madera, CA 93636-8762.