Virginia G. Rios quietly passed away on Jan. 6, 2021, in Marana, Arizona. She was born in Morenci, Arizona, on Dec. 28, 1930, to parents Manuel Gonzales and Paulita Duran. Virginia is the oldest of four children. She attended Morenci area schools.
She was very active as a Den Mother of Cub Scouts, Holy Cross Church Religious Class Instructor, and employed by Morenci Schools as a teachers-aide. When her husband retired, they relocated to Solomon, Arizona, where she lived for 31 years. In her retirement years, Virginia enjoyed gardening, needlework, sewing, quilting, cake decorating, and reading.
She was active in the American Legion Post 95 Women’s Auxiliary, District President and Department, Children and Youth, POW-MIA Department Chair-woman, Department Community Service, a member of the 8 & 40 Veteran Foreign War Women’s Auxiliary, Solomon Beneficio Propio, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish as a Eucharistic Ministry, visited and comforted the sick and elderly, Religious Class Instructor, March of Dimes, Pride of Safford Award for her work in the community, attended Eastern Arizona College, BloodMobile volunteer, a member of Mt. Graham Regional Hospital Women’s Auxiliary for 30 years, recently Publicity Officer for the Annual Christmas House for 15 years, she volunteered at the Mt. Graham Regional Hospital Hospice Program for 19 years, and Haven of Safford Nursing Home.
Virginia is survived by her two sons, Frank (Debra) Rios, of Queen Creek, Arizona, and David Anthony (Susan) Rios, of Marana, and a brother, Gilbert Gonzales, of Thatcher. She is also survived by 18 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Ascencion (Pelon), and parents, Manuel and Paulital; sons, Thomas and Raul; brother, Joe, and sister, Irene.
Private family services will be held.
Arrangements are under the direction of McDougal’s Caldwell Funeral Chapel & Gila Valley Crematory. Online condolences may be extended at www.caldwellfuneralchapel.com.
