Virginia Alice Kaspar Morrow (1925-2013)
Beloved mother and wife, Ginny Morrow passed away peacefully on October 17, surrounded by her family.
Virginia Kaspar was born in Oak Park, Illinois, the only child of Jack and Nelle Kaspar. She grew up on the North side of Chicago until she reached her teens. In 1940, the family moved to Glendale, California, where her father was employed by Jet Propulsion Laboratories in nearby Pasadena.
Ginny, as she was called, attended Herbert Hoover High School and was active in the Glendale Presbyterian Church, participating in the youth group, choir, and Christian Endeavor. At age 15, while attending a church camp, she met Dick Morrow, also from Glendale. They continued to date throughout their high school years.
After her graduation in 1943, Ginny attended the University of Southern California and became a loyal Trojan. While at USC, she lived with two of her Alpha Gamma Delta sorority sisters in a one room bungalow behind a residence near the sorority house. Among other things, she waited tables at the student union and raked leaves and handled other gardening activities, previously assigned to the male students. She was an active member of her sorority and was very involved in student government, serving as Student Body Secretary for 3 semesters. Ginny majored in Elementary Education and minored in Music. Her summers were spent working on the playgrounds in Glendale, teaching folk dancing and leading sing-alongs.
During her junior year at USC, Ginny and Dick were pinned. After graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1946, they were engaged to be married. The couple married in Glendale in 1947.
Ginny taught fourth and fifth grade for several years at Columbus Elementary School in the Glendale Unified School District, as well as teaching Sunday school at Glendale Presbyterian Church.
In 1952, daughter Kathy was born. The following year their son, Randy, arrived. Nancy was born in 1959, completing the family. During these years, Dick was employed in the Legal Department at Walt Disney Productions. Ginny became a full-time mother, chauffeur, and community volunteer, particularly at the children’s schools and the church. She served as President of the PTA, receiving an Honorary Service Award. She was also active in National Charity League and Ticktockers with both daughters. In addition, she served as a Deacon for 9 years and sang in the Cathedral Choir. In 1972, she was invited to join HG PEO in Glendale. She remained actively involved with this chapter for 22 years and later affiliated with chapters in Solvang and at La Costa Glen.
Dick and Ginny traveled extensively, including an Around-the-World tour in an Air France Concorde.
In 1993, Dick and Ginny moved to Solvang in the Santa Ynez Valley, an area where they had vacationed for many years. Ginny immediately became actively involved in the community. She affiliated with the local PEO chapter and volunteered at the Cottage Hospital. She was also actively involved at the Santa Ynez Valley Presbyterian Church, serving on the Missions Committee, singing in the choir, and participating in the Mariners group. Some of their very best years were spent in Solvang.
In 2006, Dick and Ginny moved to La Costa Glen, a retirement community in north San Diego County. Shortly after their move, Ginny was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, which eventually led to her death.
Ginny is survived by her husband, Dick Morrow, three children and their spouses, Kathy Stumm (Kevin), Randy Morrow (Debbie), and Nancy Ayers (Scott), as well as her six beloved grandchildren, Rick, Jeff and Greg Stumm and Wesley, Scottie and Kellyn Morrow.
Funeral services will be held at Glendale Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, November 12th at 2:00 p.m. She has been interred at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Solvang in their family plot.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 North Michigan Avenue, 17th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60601 or the P.E.O. Foundation, 3700 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50312 or donate online at www.peointernational.org.