Virginia (Ginger) Mae Washburn
Feb. 21, 1939 — Sept. 16, 2022

LAKEPORT, Calif. — Virginia (Ginger) Mae Brock was born to parents Leonard and Rita Brock in Santa Rosa, California, on Feb. 21, 1939.

On May 21, 1955, she met Allen Griggs, who asked her on a hayride in Calistoga. Two months later, on Aug. 14, he proposed. They were married almost a year later on July 29, 1956.

The newlyweds moved to Santa Rosa where they had their first child, Guy Griggs, in May of 1957. They moved to Eureka shortly after and had their second child, Darla “Chelle” Griggs in July of 1961. The couple then moved their new family to Lake County in 1962.

Shortly after making the move to Lakeport, she opened a pet shop “Ginger’s Pets and Pals” on Main Street in Lakeport.

In the early 1970s she attended and graduated cosmetology school, becoming a beautician and starting a career as a hairdresser in Lakeport.

In 1975 Allen and Ginger divorced. She continued to do cosmetology until she met her second husband, David Washburn, through her best friend Gail Banta in 1982. They were married the next year on Nov. 16, in Reno, Nevada.

Avid members of The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Ginger and Dave enjoyed a robust and rewarding social life making many lifelong friends with the fraternal order.

In the early 1990s Ginger and Dave became managers at Sunshine Manor in Lakeport until their retirement to Hilo, Hawaii, in the early 2000s. While in Hawaii Ginger and Dave made many friends and enjoyed all the islands had to offer.

They returned to Lakeport in 2012 due to Dave’s escalating health issues. Dave passed later that year.

In 2016 Ginger’s daughter moved in to help care for her as a longtime battle with cancer combined with Alzheimer’s began to increase.

Ginger enjoyed a loving and comfortable life in the loving hands of her daughter. She passed peacefully in the comfort of her own home on Sept. 16, 2022, due to complications from cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.

Ginger is survived by her two children, seven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and all her extended family at the Lakeport Lodge of The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

A memorial service will be held at Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary on Wednesday, Nov. 16, at 1 p.m.