Virginia Anne Yoshino

1934 - 2024

Virginia Anne Yoshino

March 26, 1934 - January 1, 2024

Ripon, California - Virginia Anne Yoshino passed away after a brief illness on January 1, 2024, at the age of 89 at her home in Ripon, CA. She was born on March 26, 1934, in Springfield, MO, to her late parents Helen and Sam Pile.

Virginia is survived by her loving husband of 46 years, Ernie, and her children Lynn Albro (Dennis), Janet Muncy (Jim), Dan Lundell Jr. (Nanette), Kym Shaw (Jim), Kimiko Yoshino (Saif Al-Azzawi), Evan Yoshino (Toni), and Lucy Barbarin. She was a cherished grandmother to 19 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Virginia, known as "Gingy" to her parents, family and friends, was preceded in death by her brother, Bill Pile.

She moved to Southern California when she was 12, and her parents found work at Hughes Aircraft. She graduated from Leuzinger High School in Lawndale, CA in 1951. She married her first husband, Daniel Lundell Sr., when she was 18, and they had four children. They moved to Modesto in 1965. Virginia married Ernie Yoshino in 1977.

Throughout her life, Virginia held a deep passion for education and teaching. While raising four young children - sometimes taking them to class with her - she attended college at night to obtain her degree and teaching credential, graduating from Modesto Junior College and Stanislaus State University in Turlock. She was proud of her intellect, and was invited to join Mensa, after scoring in the 98th percentile on her IQ tests.

In the 1970s, she taught special education at Oakdale Junior High School and worked as a resource specialist at Julien School in Turlock. Later, she home-schooled her children and grandchildren before establishing her own parent participation schools, Sierra Christian School and Mid-Valley Christian School in Modesto from the early 1980s-1992.

Virginia was a lifelong learner. She found solace and strength in her faith. She was a member of Ham Lane Church of Christ in Lodi and, earlier, Davis Park Church of Christ in Modesto. She was an avid scholar of the Bible and filled her bookshelves with theological guides and handwritten Bible study notebooks.

Known as "Mimi" to her grandchildren, she loved each one with interest. She instilled a love of music in her children and grandchildren, teaching many of them how to play the piano. She continued playing into the last years of her life.

Virginia's hobbies were a reflection of her creativity. She found joy in knitting and quilting, trying new recipes, stained glass, learning Greek and Latin, and hosting exchange students. Her home was always open to anyone in need. In retirement, Ernie and Virginia moved to Rio Vista in 2014 and Lodi in 2016. They enjoyed taking leisurely walks and driving across the country to explore new places and visit friends - often taking her companion Thistle the Scottish terrier in the backseat.

A celebration of life will be held on February 3 at 11 a.m. at Ham Lane Church in Lodi, where family, friends, and all those touched by Virginia are invited to gather to remember her life.