Virginia Laurel Piper Miller (Ginny)
Virginia Miller died in Oakland on January 15, 2015, at the age of 90. She was born in Minnesota on April 15, 1924, to Charles and Laura Piper. As a child, she spent many happy days with her parents, grandparents and cousins in the town of Young America, Minnesota. In 1935 the family moved to Kansas City for two years and then to Oakland in 1937. Virginia attended Claremont Junior High and University High School. She was active in student activities, beginning a full life and recognizing the rewards of volunteering. She graduated from University of California in Berkeley in 1946 with a degree in Social Welfare. She was a member of the Sigma Kappa sorority and stayed close to her sorority sisters through the years. She served on the Cal World War II Classes reunion committee.
After graduation Virginia met her husband, Ralph Miller, while working at the California Packing Corporation (Del Monte). They were married in 1947 and celebrated 59 anniversaries. They moved to Fresno where she worked for the County Welfare Dept., and returned to Oakland in 1948 when Ralph went to work for BBD&O. They began a family and soon moved to Berkeley where they raised four children and lived in the same house for 55 years.
Virginia was a member of the First Congregational Church of Berkeley since 1938. She enjoyed teaching Sunday School for close to 50 years. She became involved volunteering with Camp Fire Girls while in college and was a group leader for 25 years. She was employed for many years as the District Director of the Codornices Council.
Virginia’s volunteer work also included serving as a Board Member of the Berkeley City Ballet, working with the Berkeley Youth Baseball Assoc., the Berkeley Excellence in Youth Program, and at the Alta Bates Thrift Shop for 33 years. She was always active in her children’s schools and with the PTA.
Virginia loved the theatre, ballet, symphony, and especially the opera. She and Ralph had season tickets to the San Francisco Opera for over 30 years and attended the Santa Fe Opera for 11 seasons. She became a member of the SF Opera Guild Board of Directors where she coordinated Opera House tours for 25 years and organized an Opera Guild Rummage Sale for 14 years.
She worked with the Student and Senior Matinees and was a co-chairman of the Fol de Rol. Virginia also became involved with the SF Performing Arts Center Tours. She was on that committee for 31 years and joined the Board of Directors in 1985, serving as Regional Director for 6 years. Through the years Virginia was recognized and received awards for her Volunteerism in many areas of her life. She was named Volunteer of the Year by the Opera Guild in 2004 and later received the McNeil Volunteer Recognition Award for “service and commitment” by the SF Opera.
Virginia and Ralph loved to travel and went on many trips with family and friends, including Ralph’s brother Ed and wife Judy. They went on an annual trip to the plays in Ashland, with friends Phoebe and Dave Fulmer, for over 30 years. Virginia was a big Cal fan and Bear Backer. When the children were young the family went to the Lair of the Bear summer camp with the Coates and Fulmer families.
Virginia was an avid Giants fan. She was delighted to live long enough to see the Giants win the World Series three times. She rarely missed watching a game on TV.One of the things she enjoyed most was supporting Ralph’s long time participation in local theatre, which involved over 1500 performances in 150 plays. At different times, Virginia helped with props, costumes, and the box office as well as attending the plays.
Virginia is survived by her daughter Laurel (Felix), son Don (Mary), grandson Wilson, daughter-in-law Gail, son-in-law Phil, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins, as well as her dear friends Marge Carstens of Minnesota and Margie Coates of Oakland. She was predeceased by her husband Ralph, daughter Allison, son Jim, brothers Charles and Edward, and niece Juli.
A Memorial Service for Virginia will be held on Sunday, February 15th, at 1:30 at the First Congregational Church of Berkeley. Donations may be made in Virginia’s memory to the San Francisco Opera Guild at 301 Van Ness Ave., 94102, the First Congregational Church of Berkeley at 2345 Channing Way, 94707, or to an Arts organization of your choice.