STEPHENS, Virginia Eileen

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona, Saturday, July 28, 2012 Virginia E. Stephens, 91, of Prescott, Ariz., born Oct. 23, 1920, in Pomona, Calif., passed away July 19, 2012. Services will be 2 p.m. Aug. 21, 2012, at the First Church of the Nazarene, 2110 Willow Creek Road, Prescott. Arrangements by Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home. ~~~~~~~~ The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona, Saturday, August 11, 2012 Virginia Eileen Stephens passed away at 91 years unexpectedly after a severe fall and prolonged illness. She passed away peacefully at Good Samaritan Society, Marley House Hospice, in Prescott, Ariz., on July 19, 2012. She was born Oct. 23, 1920 to Marshall and Marie Greathouse, who preceded her in death along with aunts, uncles, and cousins. She attended Occidental and Pomona Colleges in California upon graduating from Eagle Rock High School in Eagle Rock, California. She majored in music and obtained a teaching credential from Claremont Graduate School, Calif. She first taught in Independence, Calif., while her husband, Phil A. Stephens was serving overseas in WWII. She met and married Phil Stephens, a Marine Corps captain, Dec. 12, 1942. (He later retired from the Corps as a major). She is survived by her two children, Karen Elaine Stephens and Robert Bruce Stephens of Prescott; and former husband Dr. Phil A. Stephens of Simi, Calif. (A lifelong educator, he obtained his doctorate in the field of education). While married, she directed church choirs, choruses, sang as a soloist on numerous occasions in various choral groups. She was also quite active politically throughout her life. She loved hiking and the mountains, scaling Mt. Whitney, Calif. twice, at 18 years and 42 years, and the face of Half Dome, Yosemite, Calif. in later years. After 28 years of marriage, she resumed her education at California State University, Northridge, and obtained her degree in Home Economics. She taught classes at Moorpark Jr. College, California and classes in Spanish, her minor, in public school. She valued her Christian faith and heritage most highly and most recently attended The First Church of the Nazarene, Prescott. A memorial service will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012, at the First Church of the Nazarene, Prescott. She is also survived by her brother, Dr. Ted Greathouse and his wife June of Oxnard, Calif.; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be sent to The First Church of the Nazarene, 2110 Willow Creek Road, Prescott, AZ 86301. She was greatly beloved by her family and friends! You are invited to log on to www.ruffnerwakelin.com to sign Virginia's guest book and share a memory with the family. The Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home assisted the family with the arrangements. Information provided by survivors.