Virgil Griepp

1937 - 2025

He attended Seattle Pacific College where he majored in Greek and History, was student body vice president, and sang in choirs. There, he met his first wife, Beverly Shadbolt. After graduation, they moved to Spokane where Virgil was appointed public relations director at Whitworth College. Son Douglas was born in 1963, followed by David in 1968. The family then moved to Seattle where Virg became communications director for the Synod of Alaska-Northwest of the Presbyterian Church (USA). He was also music director at Newport Presbyterian Church in Bellevue and volunteered with the church youth group.

A devoted dad to Doug and David, Virg immersed them in the diversity of their Capitol Hill neighborhood in the 1970s, teaching them to be comfortable around all colors and cultures. Virg knew how to create fun, whether it was building a playroom or backyard fort, playing board games and making popcorn balls, or building models and Legos. He drove pre-dawn carpools to swim team practice and after-school carpools to choir rehearsals. He was one of Seattle's first volunteer soccer coaches for his boys' teams, along with several neighborhood dads who also knew nothing about this "new" youth sport.

After his first marriage ended, Virg married Sharon Terpsma Taylor in 1986, settling in Spokane where Virg took over his father's construction and rental property business. Virg and Sharon shared 39 years filled with travel, concerts, family vacations in Bigfork, Montana, and festive Christmas feasts in the home they built. They were charter members of Colbert Presbyterian Church. Virg inherited a beloved new daughter and son-Brenda and Doug-through his marriage to Sharon, and they added "new kids" in the form of their much-adored Lhasa Apsos. As Virg and Sharon faced health challenges, they moved to Cogir of Kent assisted living in 2023, where they made a host of friends among residents and staff alike.

Virg was preceded in death by Sharon in March 2025, and by his brother Darrell in 1980. He is survived by his children, Doug (Denise Martin) Griepp, David (Katy) Griepp, Brenda Griepp, and Doug (Joanna Freeman) Taylor, and seven grandchildren: Isaac, Benjamin, Gabriela, Brayden, Griffin, Jacob and Kayla. He also leaves a brother, Winston (Susanne) Griepp, a sister-in-law, Marya (first wife of Darrell), and treasured nieces and nephews Weston, Natalie, Freedom, Nicole, Chad and Angie.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Spokane on April 11, 2026 at 2 PM at Colbert Presbyterian Church, 4211 E. Colbert Road, Colbert, WA, 99005. Memorial gifts may be made to Colbert Presbyterian Church