Obituary of Virginia P. Stilphen

Virginia P. Stilphen died quietly in her sleep at Serenity House in Santa Barbara on July 16, 2019.  Marjorie Virginia Peacock (called Virginia but also known as Ginny. Jimmy, and as GeeGee to her grandchildren), the youngest child of Rolland and Maude Victoria (Moon) Peacock, was born in Alhambra, CA on January 17, 1925.

 

She was predeceased by her parents and brothers William Rolland and Victor Jackson Peacock and sisters Mary Elizabeth Nicholls, Ruth Ellen Ridenour and Dorothy Alice Bittleston Tapie.

 

The Peacock family moved to Santa Barbara when Virginia was 2 years old.  She attended Jefferson Elementary, La Cumbre Junior High and graduated from Santa Barbara High School in January, 1942 (the last midterm graduation for SBHS). While in high school she was a Student Body Song Leader, queen of the Santa Barbara Flower Festival and past Honored Queen of Job’s Daughter’s Bethel 18.

 

After graduation, she attended business college and was a long time member of various chapters of Beta Sigma Phi, the national sorority for business women.  In 1987 she retired after 30 years as an electroencephalographic technician in the Neurology Department of Sansum Medical Clinic, Santa Barbara.  She was also active in the American Society of Electroencephalographic Technicians (ASET) also known as American Society of Electroneurodiagnostic Technologists and the Neurodiagnostic Society, and recognized for her contribution to the formation of that group..

 

In 1943 she married Harold Royal Young and had two children, David Norwood Young and Gayle Irene Miller. After short stays in Bakersfield and Santa Maria, CA, in about 1955 she returned to Santa Barbara where she raised Gayle and David.   In 1965 she married Robert Henry Stilphen who had two grown children, Gregory Stilphen and Suzanne Fischer. Together they have 10 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.  Robert survives her.

 

She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Santa Barbara.

 

She was talented at sewing, knitting, crocheting and needle work, making fudge, baking, and was known for her famous version of Mamu’s lemon meringue pie.  She and Robert enjoyed bowling, golf, boating, fishing, camping and traveling in their various recreation vehicles.  For many years they were active members of the Caravaneers, and Elks camping clubs.

 

She lost her hearing in 1995 due to pneumococcal meningitis that developed after pneumonia.  The Emblem Club of Elks Lodge 613 arranged for her to be given a dog trained by the San Francisco SPCA Hearing Dog Program. Nim was her ears and her most precious love for 15 years.

 

At her request there was no service.  She requested cremation and her remains dispensed with Nim’s in the Eastern Sierra Mountains.

 

Arrangements made by McDermott-Crockett Mortuary.  In lieu of cards and flowers, her family suggests donations in her name to Visiting Nurses and Hospice Care Foundation, 509 E. Montecito, Santa Barbara, CA 93103.

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