Virginia Lee Marlar was born in Hominy, Oklahoma on an Osage Indian Reservation on April 11, 1926- three years before the Great Depression.  She shared stories of "Cardboard" soles in her baby shoes, and dresses sewn from flour sacks- but always insisted that she and her siblings, Charles Jr. and Betty, never grew up with the notion that they were poor. Virginia's parents, Charles and Gladys, and their resilience and benevolence would be the foundation of Virginia's character throughout her life.

Virginia met her husband, William Fitzgibbons in Honolulu, Hawaii.  Together, they raised three children: Billy Joe, Sherry Anne and Kerrie Anne.  Her fondest recollection of being a mother included stories of roller-skating in her young family's quonset hut home in Hawaii, or spending time with her children and parents, traveling to various National Parks.

Her love for her family and for travel grew to encompass an ever-expanding scope.  Those that she considered her 'children" would include friends of her children, grandchildren, cousins, nieces, nephews and cherished acquaintances; several of whom would have an opportunity to have a wanderlust instilled in them by accompanying her on her various world travels.  In her life, Virginia visited 38 foreign countries, and found great joy in sharing her love for travel with those she most cared for.

Virginia knew her share of hardship, but her devotion to the family she built and her faith in God gave her the fortitude not only to persevere, but to love life and instill in all of her 'children' a gratitude for every day we have.  It may appear greedy to want more days with a person who lived such a long and rich life, but the fact that Virginia was 91 only magnifies the enormity of the room whose doors have quietly shut.

Near the end of Virginia's days, she would occasionally become confused, and answers to simple questions became elusive, but when asked about her various Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren, she would light up eager to talk about her 'babies". Her children were the light of her life, and she did her best to let each of them know it until the end.

Virginia is survived by the father of her children, William Joseph Fitzgibbons, her children Sherry Anne Evans, Kerrie Anne Stephens, Grandchildren, Katie Fitzgibbons, Kyle Fitzgibbons, Jeff Housley, James Housley, LeeAnne Gomes, Kristi Fisher, Kimberly Stephens, Ashley Stephens, Anthony Stephens Jr., Joseph Stephens, Great Grandchildren, Nieces, Nephews, cousins and many close friends.

Virginia will be returned to Hawaii, and her ashes will be laid to rest in the Pacific Ocean off Diamond Head on Saturday, October 7, 2017.