Virginia Oldroyd

Virginia Washburn Oldroyd was born in the Moab Hospital on May 13, 1939, to Alvin Lavell Washburn and Wasel Amelia Black of Blanding, Utah. She was the youngest of ten children and the only one born in a hospital. Her dad, who lovingly called her his "hunk of sunshine," passed away when she was only three years old. The summer before Virginia started third grade, her mom moved the family to Provo. Her early memories included listening to her brother Berk sing "The Stranger of Galilee," being held upside down by her ankles inside a hole to help repair a plumbing issue, and laughing while playing Run around the Rug with her siblings.
In high school, Virginia was on the basketball team and graduated from Provo High in 1957. She attended Brigham Young University for two years before transferring to the University of Southern California, where she earned a B.S. degree in dental hygiene. While there, she was a member of Alpha Kappa Gamma and served as senior class vice president.
Virginia met Mark Thomas Oldroyd after she cleaned his brother Victor's teeth. Victor told Mark, "I met your wife today," prompting Mark to show up at her house later that day to introduce himself. On one of their first dates, they went to a drive-in, but when they discovered they didn't like the movie, they left and went to a deserted road in Mapleton, turned up the car radio, and danced in the street. Mark and Virginia were married in the Salt Lake Temple on December 15, 1961. They lived in La Cañada, California; Provo, Orem, and Salt Lake City, Utah; Kona, Hawaii; and Sendai and Nagoya, Japan. At the time of her passing, they were living in Provo with a fun view of the BYU LaVell Edwards Stadium jumbotron outside their bedroom window.
Virginia and Mark raised five children: Jan, Thomas, Taylor, Jared, and James (Jim), each of whom deeply loves their mom. Jan cherished laughing with her mom until they cried, doing puzzles together, and working as real estate partners for a few years. Thomas inherited her housecoat because when he was in junior high, she came home from shopping and found a note saying he was downstairs in bed; she found him snuggled up in her housecoat to comfort him when she wasn't home. Taylor, in junior high and before cell phones, started calling his mom daily from the school office at lunchtime, a tradition that has continued every day of his life except for a semester abroad and part of his mission. Who is he going to call now? Jared, at age three, climbed onto her lap, put his hands on her cheeks, and asked, "Is you name Beginia?" When she nodded yes, he responded, "I love you, Beginia." Jim, who at age two was just tall enough to see over the mattress, stood beside her bed for a long time after she returned from surgery, and observed, "You have cute knees."
At different times in her life, Virginia was a soda jerk, photo retoucher, dental hygienist (the first in Utah south of Salt Lake City), bookkeeper, office manager, author, publisher, and REALTOR® with Century 21 Bushnell in Orem. She had a quick wit, a clever sense of humor, and loved sudoku and jigsaw puzzles. Virginia sang in many choirs, loved opera and classical music, and played the violin, including with the Utah Valley Symphony. She sewed, wrote poetry and books, and loved playing sports (especially basketball) and watching sports (especially football). She was an avid bicyclist and biked from her home in Orem, Utah to Washington, DC twice (when she was 50 years young and again at 55). She climbed Mt. Fujiyama in Japan with sandals duct taped to her feet because they hadn't planned on it but spontaneously decided to make the trek.
Virginia loved the 4th of July and would camp out all night to save a prime Provo parade spot for the family. After the parade, dozens of family members, friends, and even strangers would show up on Mark and Virginia's front lawn to eat and watch fireworks together.
The only thing Virginia loved more than her country and her family was God. She was an active, faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in the Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary organizations in various ward and stake callings. With Mark, she served a mission in Sendai, Japan (1999-2001) and another in Nagoya, Japan (2010-2012). As her body slowed down, she often said, "Chotto matte kudasai," meaning "Wait a moment, please."
She was allergic to cats, chocolate, and bananas. Ironically, after watching The Aristocats, a couple of her grandchildren sang: "Grandma Gina wants to be a cat." It stuck.
Virginia faced many serious health challenges throughout her life, including nearly drowning at age nine, getting bucked off a horse twice, encephalitis in 1961, erythema nodosum in 1968 while pregnant with Jared, four miscarriages, neuropathy in her feet (which led her to wear fun socks with sandals for decades), kidney stones (many times), sepsis, COVID (three times), and breast cancer. Despite her challenges, she remained optimistic and grateful.
Virginia passed away on February 15, 2025, at age 85, in her bedroom, surrounded by family and over 400 pictures of Jesus. She would often wake up with the song "I Feel My Savior's Love" in her head.
Virginia was buried on Thursday, February 20, 2025, in the Provo City Cemetery. A Memorial Service and Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at the Pleasant View Chapel, 800 E. Stadium Ave, Provo, Utah 84604. Attendees are encouraged to wear fun socks with sandals.
Virginia laughed, cried, and loved easily, offering warmth and a safe haven to many. She is survived by her devoted husband, Mark, who cared for her so well for so long; her five children: Jan Vanfleet (Jim Vanfleet), Thomas Berk Oldroyd (Brenda Travassos), Taylor Mark Oldroyd (Meredith Wright Oldroyd), Jared Washburn Oldroyd (Becki Bryce Oldroyd), and James Ballard Oldroyd (Kimberly Daniels Oldroyd); 32 grandchildren and 38 great-grandchildren (with more on the way) who adored their "Grandma Gina"; two of her siblings: J Ballard Washburn and Velyn Nicholes; in-laws Luzon Washburn, Victor and Joyce Oldroyd, Allen and Anna Oldroyd, Hannah Oldroyd, Nancy Oldroyd, Terry Pyne, and Robert and Susan Oldroyd; and most of her 117 nieces and nephews. She was eager to reunite with many deceased loved ones, including her father (they had a lot of catching up to do), mother, and seven siblings.
Goik! (IYKYK)
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.olpinmortuary.com.