Virginia Tidwell Samuelson

Virginia Tidwell Samuelson

Born October 7, 1914 in Lawrence, Kansas, Virginia passed away peacefully on October 13th in her apartment at Horizon House in Seattle, Washington, after just recently learning she had kidney cancer.

She was the daughter of Gertrude Gerhard and Harley W. Gatlin and lived 20 years in Denver, CO where she graduated from South High School and Parks Business College. She had a varied and happy life, doing some professional modeling and working as an "extra" at Paramount studios in Hollywood. She then moved into the business world as an executive secretary in radio, television and advertising before moving to Seattle in 1941 to raise her family.

Here she was a member of the Seattle Tennis Club, Broadmoor Golf Club, the International Chinese Snuff Bottle Society, Seattle Genealogical Society, Children's Hospital Guild, Windermere Garden Club and the Arboretum. She attended the University of Washington, was a patron of the Seattle Art Museum and enjoyed opening night at the Seattle Opera for thirty years. Virginia participated in fund raising activities and was a past President of the King County Medical Auxiliary. An ardent gardener, she raised bonsai for 40 years. She was a world traveler from China to Africa, Asia to South America and beyond. She loved to read and dance, listen to music, play bridge, collect Chinese snuff bottles and she enjoyed over 20 years of genealogical research.

Her greatest joy in life was her family and friends. She is survived by her daughter, Judy Bethea, of Mill Creek, WA, son, John Tidwell (Beth Porter) of Federal Way, WA and step-daughter, Vicki Andersen (Bob) of Bellevue, WA. Three step-children predecease her, Bob Samuelson, Sally Jones (Rick) and Linda Sax (Craig) of CA. She is also survived by three grandchildren, Gretchen Jackson (Chris), Peter Gould (Aprille Walker) and Kevin Gould (Kaori) and four step-grandchildren, Jonathan Andersen (Kelli), Kristen Andersen, Stephanie Bailey (Dan) and Heather Melvin (Greg) plus seven great grandchildren, Oliver & Chloe Jackson, Bella & Gavin Gould and Joma, Rita & Jina Gould and four step-great grandchildren, Maddie & Lindsey Bailey and Georgia & Graham Melvin.

Virginia was a kind and generous mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend. She was amazingly full of life and an inspiration at 99 years of age. We will all miss her!

There will be a private family memorial. In lieu of flowers, remembrances are suggested Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research or Children's Hospital.