Virginia Elizabeth Colp

Virginia Elizabeth Colp died unexpectedly Feb. 18, 2010, in Vancouver, Wash. A resident of Petersburg, she was in Vancouver to have a health checkup and visit former resident friends Dave and LaVerne Heiner.
Virginia was born during a monthlong trip to Tacoma, Wash., on Aug. 19, 1927, to Harry and Wilhelmina (Minnie) Colp. Raised in Petersburg, she graduated from Petersburg High School in 1945 and attended the Tacoma Knapp Business College from fall 1945 to May 1946, living with the college president's family for her room and board.
Virginia's life was one of helping and serving others. She went to Fairbanks in 1946 to live with her brothers, Douglas and Marcel. She worked at Ladd Field and was on hand to help her sister-in-law when both of her nephews were born: Larry in 1946 and Jerry in 1948.
After 25 faithful years with the Petersburg Alaska Coastal Airlines (merged with Alaska Airlines) as a baggage handler and general helper, she worked for Petersburg Motors. She then became a reliable expediter for exploration companies: Resource Associates, Nerco Mining, Cathiness Alaska Mining and Central Alaska Gold.
After caring for her mother until she died in Petersburg in 1976, she returned to Fairbanks to live closer to family in 1978. When an apartment became available at the Mountain View Manor in fall 2005, however, she decided to return to her roots in Petersburg.
Her father, Harry, wrote about his experiences as a prospector of the "Devil's Country" near Petersburg. Virginia published his manuscript in a small book, "The Strangest Story Ever Told." In 1966, she, Doug and two friends went by helicopter to the area, but they did not have enough time to investigate the described gold deposits. It was in 1993 that Virginia, Doug, Larry, Jerry and his then 16-year-old son Jeremy again went by helicopter to the area and to Colp's Lake, named after Harry Colp. They and Marcel also went by boat to Five Mile Creek to see the buildings where her family had their fox ranch until 1927 and did summer gardening/fishing for many years thereafter.
Virginia loved to travel and had suggestions of places to see or explore for either family or friends each year, often trying out a different vehicle. This resulted in at least yearly trips in Alaska and to visit friends in Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona and California. She also instigated a trip in 1991 to Nova Scotia, where her father was born, with her brother/wife and nephew, finding relatives and gravestones of ancestors who immigrated to America from Germany in the 1700s. Her hobbies included collecting rocks, lapidary, making attractive items, working puzzles, viewing Alaska books, photography and listening to music.
She was preceded in death by her brother Richard and her parents.
Virginia is survived in Fairbanks by her oldest brother, Douglas, and Marcel; nephew Larry and Annie, their children Jennifer and Paul Brown and their daughter Veanni, Sarah, Tanya and Brian Beldin; nephew Jerry and Myrna, their daughter, Jessica, son Jeremy and Salena and their children: Kate, Emily, Alexia and Ruby; son Michael and Vicki Gordon and their children Michael Jr. Mathew, Isabella, Ernie, Veronica, Tyler and Christopher; daughter Michelle and Jeremy Amstrup and their children Sadie Mae, Abri and Kaylee; daughter Dynelle Gordon and her children Aleaha Jade and Trey; daughter Crystal and Robert Grabowski and their daughter, Samantha.
There will be no memorial service. Donations may be made in her name to Mountain View Manor, PO Box 1530, Petersburg, AK 99833 or to your favorite charity.