1919-2014
Virginia May Denniston Sandry passed away peacefully on May 15, 2014, with her son Steve at her side at the Evergreen Hospice Center in Kirkland, WA. She had been blessed with 95 years of good health and her clear wits were evident in goodbye chats with loved ones. She was predeceased by her husband of 63 years Thomas E. Sandry, a founding member of the Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society. Virginia was born in Seattle on April 16, 1919, to Cecile Moore Denniston and Roy I. Denniston. When her parents died in the 1930’s she lived with her Grandma Moore from whom she learned to be a wonderful seamstress. She graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1936. She married Tom on September 6, 1939, and had two sons, Tom and Steve. She and her husband helped in the Sunday School at University Presbyterian Church where they both were lifelong members and deacons. Together they were part owners and operators of the old Mosquito Fleet steamer the “Virginia V”. Her husband once wrote “I love to drive the Virginia Five but I have more fun with Virginia One!” Over the years, she worked as a seamstress, homemaker, special education classroom assistant, served as church deacon and helped with service efforts like Saturday Kitchen for the homeless. She was devoted to Bible study and church committees, enjoyed boating with Sea Scout friends and created adventures with grandchildren. She and her husband were loving friends with many people. After Steve and Tom had left home, Virginia and Tom befriended Bob Fergusson, his wife and son Christian. They also enjoyed a close relationship with their grandchildren’s mother E. Sandy Powell and her daughter Elizabeth. In her later years, people have spoken of her kind spirit as she generously expressed God’s love and Christian values. For the past seven years, she lived at Ida Culver House and enjoyed many visits and calls from family, friends and dear neighbors. Her lifelong love of Seattle, Puget Sound and the Olympic mountains was always evident. She is survived by Thomas Denniston Sandry and his wife Paula H. Sandry of Tuxedo, N.Y., Stephen Edward Sandry and his wife Jennifer Sumner of Fall City, WA; nieces: Judy (Lee) DeRitter of Mahwah, NJ, Patti Ann Lohse of Everett, WA and Donna (Denniston) Bland of Redding, CA; grandchildren: Gisela Ann Birnschein and Willie Guy Sandry and four great grandchildren.
Memorial service and reception will be held Wednesday, June 4, 2014 at 1:00 P.M. at the University Presbyterian Church, 4540 15th Ave. NE, Seattle WA 98105.Memorials: University Presbyterian Church general fund.