Virginia Young Obituary

Virginia Loop Young was born in Mount Vernon, Washington (state) on August 15, 1940. At 3 days old she was adopted and joined an older brother, Richard in the family of Mildred (Millie) and Francis Loop. The two children romped in the pastures, climbed trees, and chased the cows on the family farm. In 1949 she gained another brother, Jerry and a sister Judy, in 1951. When she was 10, the family moved to Loveland, Colorado to be near her mom's sister, Jeanette Grosboll. Virginia attended grades 5 through 8 at Loveland before attending Campion Academy for 2 years. This was a special time because the four Loop children joined the four Grosboll cousins. With that many minds, something was always happening.
Virginia graduated from Laurelwood Academy in 1958. Her parents, two brothers and sister now lived in Caldwell, Idaho where her father, Francis Loop was both a realtor and builder of quality homes. Each house was uniquely constructed with a gorgeous hand-carved Basque wooden entry door. The family would travel to Arizona from Idaho to see new home designs and buy decorative lighting and unique front doors for their Idaho development. Millie played the organ in their church, was leader in the children's divisions and worked as a local florist. Francis got involved in raising Shetland ponies, having as many as twenty or more ponies at any given time. This was the beginning of Virginia's lifelong love and enjoyment of horses.
Virginia attended Walla Walla College and in 1962 graduated with the education degree that she had always dreamed of. She also found a special friend, Joe Young. After teaching in Boise for one year, (where she designed and named the first yearbook for Boise Junior Academy) she married her sweetheart, Joe in 1963. The direction of her whole future changed after their marriage. Joe was from Florida so she traveled through many new states when they visited his mother. Joe also loved natural science. This meant that the whole family spent a lot of time in nature. Sometimes they looked for fossils, animals, or birds and other times they hiked or canoed. There was always something to see and do.
While Joe worked on his master's degree at Walla Walla College Virginia taught third and fourth grades at Roger's School from1963-65. During the last year (1965) their daughter Alisa JoAnn was born at Walla Walla General Hospital. At the end of the school year, the family moved to Caldwell, Idaho where Virginia was able to stay home. By this time a second child, Joseph (Joe) Richard III, had been born (1966), followed by Anthony (Tony) William in 1968. The family lived on a small rented farm near her parent's house. Life was busy but happy. Joe taught science classes at Gem State Academy from 1967-70. During the last year in Caldwell (1969-70) Virginia was the 7th and 8th grade homeroom teacher and also taught math and social studies to the 7th and 8th graders.
In 1970 Walla Walla Valley Academy (WWVA) recruited Joe to teach science. Virginia's teaching duties at the academy varied from part time to full time as needed. Joe earned a second Masters in Geology at Northern Arizona University in 1973. The family returned for three more summers while Virginia completed her Masters in Secondary Reading in 1976. She was the first Seventh-day Adventist educator on the west coast to get a graduate degree in Remedial High School Reading from Northern Arizona University which allowed her to work with teens who struggled in this area of learning. During her time at the academy, she taught reading, math and English 9 & 10. She was the first educator at the academy to enter her grades on the computer. She also became the sponsor for the Mugbook, WWVA's student directory, which she maintained for 26 years. The process started as a publication sent to a printer, but soon became an in school project from start to finish publication. They took the pictures, printed them, organized them on pages, printed the page, and assembled the book at a great savings to the school. In 2000 the Mugbook became completely digital, full color and produced all in house at the school. A proud student staff celebrated that first book. Besides teaching Virginia was faculty sponsor for several graduating classes. She retired from teaching in 2003 after 40 consecutive years of working for the SDA educational system.
Virginia's hobbies included but were not limited to reading, (she was an avid reader devouring many books within a week), crocheting, knitting, gardening, and caring for her awesome orchid collection. She enjoyed traveling with Joe to some of their favorite outdoor locations like Kalaloch Beach, WA; Cannon Beach, OR; Teton National Park, WY; and Yellowstone, WY. However, her best trips were visiting her children and grandchildren.
In her retirement years Virginia stayed very active in volunteering her time to the service of others. She was Sabbath School Secretary for the Village SDA Church. She also was Chairperson of the Baby Welcoming Committee which her daughter-in-law Renae Young had started. In addition she was on the Decorating Committee, Host & Hostess Greeters, and secretary for the Calling and Caring Committee, an important service for the church's senior citizens. She also volunteered two mornings a week at Gospel Outreach. Each summer the volunteers from Gospel Outreach were invited to her home in the country for a sumptuous potluck and enjoyment of her yard, flowers and aviary. After leaving Gospel Outreach, she volunteered two mornings a week at SonBridge Center for Better Living.
In the summer, Virginia and Joe spent many hours working in their yard and gardens. In the winter, they put up a large model train set and here was always a puzzle waiting to be completed. Weekly appointments involved reaching out to friends in the community with special needs. Joe often joked he had to make an appointment each day so he could spend some time with her. She also enjoyed having the retired WWVA teachers over for a summer evening of reminiscing and good potluck food.
Virginia was preceded in death by her father Francis Loop (1978), mother Millie Loop (2001), brother Richard (2004) and sister Judy (2022). She is survived by her husband, Joseph Young, Jr., brother Jerry Loop, and her children Alisa Romaine, Joe Young III, and Tony Young, 7 grandchildren and one great granddaughter.
Virginia's favorite texts included: Ecclesiastes 3:1-4: "There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven." New American Standard Bible (Whenever something went wrong, she always remembered that God has a time for everything so it will come out okay in His time.)
Philippians 4:8: "Brothers and sisters, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are noble, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are amiable, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue and if any praise, think of these things." New American Standard Bible (When she was in college this quotation was in the girls dormitory lobby.)
Virginia's favorite songs included: Her favorite "Turn, Turn, Turn" based on Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 To Dream the Impossible Dream You'll Never Walk Alone I Believe Anything from the Sound of Music!!
A Celebration of Life will be held for Virginia on August 15, 2025 at 3:00 pm at the College Place Village Church on 715 SE 12th St, College Place, WA 99324. To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Virginia, please visit our Tree Store.