Virginia Rose Fournier passed away peacefully on June 14, 2014 in Coupeville, WA at the age of 98. Ginger was born in San Diego, CA on July 3, 1915 to Oscar and Nellie Thomas. During her growing up years she was an avid roller skater and a cheerleader at Point Loma High School where she graduated in 1936.

In 1937, Ginger met and married her husband Paul Fournier. Thus began a career as a Navy wife traveling to an assortment of duty stations including, Vallejo, CA where daughter Pauline was born, New Jersey, Texas, California, Virginia, New York, Philadelphia, PA, where daughter Suzie was born, Washington State, and finally back to Ocean Beach, CA in 1953. In 2011 she moved to Oak Harbor, WA to be near her daughter, Suzie Long.

In May of 1954, Paul was killed in an explosion aboard the aircraft carrier USS Bennington, leaving Ginger to raise their two daughters. Ginger was a Brownie and Girl Scout leader and a volunteer at the Ocean Beach Recreation Center. She organized many parades, Halloween carnivals and camp outs. In typical Girl Scout fashion, she instructed her scouts on how to dig latrines, build out-door showers and cook out of tuna cans on Bunsen burners and candles.

Ginger was a 50 year member and “Good Sport” of the San Diego Indoor Sports Club, an organization to help physically challenged individuals. Ginger was also a member of the San Diego Clown Club and a good bowler. She was a fun loving, kind, fun to be around, and generous person all her life.

Ginger is survived by her two daughters Pauline Breeding of San Diego, CA and Suzie (Jay) Long of Oak Harbor. Also surviving are five grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren. Services for Ginger will be held in San Diego, CA.

Paul gave Ginger this poem when they were first married and she kept it her entire life. She did a wonderful job of living this poem every day.

“Remember This”
Be good, but not too good-a little naughty, but not too naughty. Say a prayer if you feel that way, say damn if it gives you consolation.
Be kind to the world always, if possible. Yet if you must be unkind, smash right and left, get over it and forget it.
Smile, always smile, have a smile ready even though sometimes it hurts. Grab all the happiness you can-wherever and whenever you can. Don’t let even a wee bit slip past you. Live above all things. Live, don’t simply exist.
If you are blessed enough to know what real love is-love with all your heart, soul and body.
Live your life so that at any hour you will be able to shake hands with yourself and try to accomplish at least one thing worthwhile each day. Then when your nights come you will be able to pull up the covers and say to yourself…”I have done my best.”

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