Virginia Hopkins Hillegass

1932 - 2021

Virginia Hopkins Hillegass

Olympia, WA — Virginia Hopkins Hillegass passed away peacefully on March 24, 2021at age 88 in Olympia, Washington at the home Rose Kellogg, her daughter with whom she lived for her final 10 years. Born April 29, 1932 to the late Charles and Elizabeth Hopkins of Greenfield, New Hampshire. She was raised in Greenfield, NH and returned there for 20 years post-retirement.

Ginny graduated from the Northfield School for Girls in 1950. She attended Simmons College in Boston before transferring to Beaver College in Pennsylvania after marrying Robert Hillegass, her husband of over 50 years. After teaching for a year at an elementary school in Newtown, Pennsylvania, Ginny spent 17-years as a household engineer and mother to their four daughters.

Ginny was an active member of Friends (Quaker) Meetings, first in Newtown, PA then in Wellesley, MA. After retiring in Greenfield, NH, Ginny joined the Monadnock Friends Meeting where she served as meeting treasurer for many years.

While in Massachusetts, Ginny was active in the League of Women Voters, including serving as president. She then served on the Needham School Committee for six years, two of them as chairperson. On the school committee, she carried the swing vote in supporting racial integration of the town's schools.

When Ginny was 40 years old, she unexpectedly became the primary breadwinner. She worked in the accounting departments at Honeywell Systems, Georgia Pacific, and then Hybrid Systems before becoming the credit manager for Interactive Data Corporation (IDC). She was awarded the employee of the year award at IDC a year before being forced into early retirement by advanced hearing loss at age 57.

Ginny leaves behind four children: Barbara Helynn Heard of Olympia, WA; Kathryn Mullins of Greenfield, NH; Rose Kellogg of Olympia, WA, and Martha Hillegass of Albuquerque, NM. She was the well-loved grandmother to Yian, Rose, Sean, Sarah, Jessie, Emily and Anna Min, all of whom survive her, and who will carry forward her life energy. In addition to a host of dear friends and relatives, Ginny also leaves behind her brother, Peter Hopkins of Peterborough, NH.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Stephenson Memorial Library in Greenfield, NH. https://www.greenfield-nh.gov/stephenson-memorial-library

An online memorial service will be held Thursday, June 3, 2021, at 7:00 PM east coast time. All who knew Ginny are welcome to attend. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81399097935?