Virginia Eleanor Goossen passed away on December 6, 2015, in West Covina, CA. Virginia was the first of two daughters born to John and Anna Vogel on January 12, 1925, in Los Angeles, CA. Her father immigrated from Germany in 1903 and her mother from Hungary in 1920. Only German was spoken at home and she had to learn English on her own in school. When she was 11 years old, she first met her future husband Robert (Bob) Goossen, who was then about 17 or 18 years old. Bob worked at his father’s gas station and Virginia’s mother had a ‘tamale stand’ across the street. Virginia would tease Bob and his brothers and get them to chase her around a bit. During the Great Depression her parents were so poor they found her a job as a ‘mother’s helper’. She lived with a family six days a week. After school and on Saturday’s she would help take care of their three sons. Her father would pick her up Sunday morning for a day at home and then take her back that evening. This lasted for a year or two. Virginia dropped out of high school when she turned 16, her sophomore year. She went to work in the shipyards. When WWII broke out, Bob was drafted. Bob’s girlfriend wrote him a ‘dear John’ letter and then Bob and Virginia began writing. They fell in love through those letters. When Bob returned home from Europe in 1945, they had a three-month romance and married on October 20, 1945. They had three children and lived in Long Beach until they moved to Bellflower in 1954. Virginia was a stay at home mom except for three years she worked at North American and then Douglas Aircraft. She loved being home and caring for her family. She was active in church and supporting Bob with his interests, like the Masonic Lodge. She loved the Lord, her family, her friends and neighbors. In 1988, they sold their home and retired in Joshua Tree, CA. She lived there until 2004. She then lived in a retirement home in Cerritos for a while and then moved to the Masonic Home in Covina which she loved. She had some physical health issues and they provided excellent care. Two and a half years ago she became ill and has been bedridden since then. Virginia is preceded in death by her parents, sister, husband, Robert in 2000, and her daughter, Ellyn Lea Fellows, in 2002. Virginia is survived by her daughter, Pamela Versteeg of Eastvale, CA, and son, Robert Goossen of San Clemente, CA. She was full of love for her 8 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. We love you, Mom! At her request a graveside service for family will be held at the Riverside National Cemetery on Wednesday, December 16, 2015, at 2:15 PM.
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