Virginia Irene Mcllwain Groah was born on February 28, 1925 in Silverton, Oregon in the old hospital on North water St. Her childhood was spent on the Mcllwain farm in the North Howell area near Labish Lake. She attended North Howell School as did her father and grandmother. In her teen years she worked in the family onion fields and later weeded and helped harvest onions for the Hayes Farms. In 1941 she was attending Silverton High School where she met Glenn Groah, a fellow student. They were married while still in school and got caught up in the war. Glenn worked in the Kaiser Shipyards while Virginia became a homemaker and mother.

After the war, Virginia and Glenn moved to the farm in North Howell. She continued her homemaker and mother duties while working in strawberries and cane berries that she and Glenn grew and harvested. In the 1970's Virginia obtained an LPN license and worked for Salem Hospital. After retirement, she and Glenn traveled with friends and spent parts of each winter in Arizona.

Virginia's husband, Glenn, preceded her in death as did her parents, George and Blanche Mcllwain and her sister Helen, who died in 1946 in an auto crash on Hazel Green Road. Also passing before her were her first cousins Doris, Patricia, Rolleen and Nellie Mcllwain who grew up on her uncle Rollie's side of the farm. Virginia was the last North Howell Mcllwain.

Virginia is survived by her sons Danny (Linda), Edward (Londa) and Mitchell Groah. Also missing her are three grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held at 1:30 pm on Friday, August 27, 2021. It will be at Pioneer Memorial Cemetery in the Brooks area. It is south of Waconda Rd. on 72 ^nd Ne Rd., north from Rambler Dr. Ne (at 75 ^th )

Memorials may be given to Pioneer Memorial Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 9134, Brooks, OR 97305. Or donate to the charity of your choice.