Virginia “Ginger” Black

Virginia “Ginger” Black

OBITUARY

Born in Chula Vista to Bessie (Jones) and Lawrence Otis, Ginger grew up in National City, graduating in 1947 from Sweetwater Union High School. She attended San Diego State for two years before marrying and starting her family.Ginger loved gardens, hummingbirds, sewing, Community Rec exercise classes, and going to the beach (where she taught her children how to body surf). As a US Marine Corps wife, she made homes and enduring friendships in Virginia, 29 Palms, Oceanside, and Key West, but Chula Vista was always home base.Her Catholic faith and St. Rose of Lima Church community were important to her. She was a member of the Altar and Rosary Guild and served as Admin. Asst. of the CCD program. At San Diego State, she was a song leader, a charter member of Alpha Phi sorority, Gamma Alpha Chapter, and continued to participate in alumna activities. She also belonged to the Women’s University Club. For many years she helped plan Sweetwater High School alumni reunions. She was proud of her ad hoc service to the SDSU Alumni Association War Memorial Committee and its creation and placement of the War Memorial monolith on the Aztec Green in 1996.Ginger was preceded in death by husbands Byron H. Chase in 1952 and James O. Black in 2011, and son Chris Black in 2005. She is survived by daughters Carol (nee Chase) Black DeLauro, Marilyn (nee Chase) Black Marker, and Candace Black, son Jim (“Jimmy”) Black, and eight grandchildren.Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Chula Vista at 12 noon on Tuesday, Oct. 8. A celebration of Ginger’s life will be held at the Chula Vista Golf Course immediately following. Inurnment will take place at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery at a later date.