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Virginia Giles Johnson

1924 - 2011

Virginia Giles Johnson was reunited with her eternal companion May 17, 2011 as she peacefully left this life behind.  Born March 30, 1924, the fourth daughter of James A. "Jimmie" Giles and Margaret Alice Stanley, in Salt Lake City, Utah.  She married Milton Ross Johnson January 22, 1944 in the Salt Lake Temple and spent her life supporting and helping the man she loved.  Milton passed away July 26, 1994 and Virginia has spent the time since waiting patiently for her chance to be with him again.

Virginia is survived by her son, Darrell (Kathy) Johnson; her daughter-in-law, Peggy Johnson; 10 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years; her son, Robert M. Johnson; her parents; 3 sisters and their spouses, Margaret and Charlie Geurts, Mary and Grant Walker, Shirley and Harold Gerber.

Virginia's life has been her family and her music.  She spent her life developing her talents with the piano, organ, and violin as well as writing and arranging music for herself and others.  In one two year period her journal lists over 50 funerals she played at for friends and family as well as many church and civic programs.  She would sit down and transpose a piece of music for anyone to better suit their range and all this was done by hand before the wonders of the computer.  She also sang in various groups over the years and developed life-long friends because of it.  She was head librarian for classified material at Hercules, Inc. for over 25 years until she retired in 1978.  She then was an organist at the Jordan River Temple until she and Milton were called to serve a full-time mission for the LDS Church to Mena, Arkansas.  While it was rare to ever hear her speak in front of a group of any size, it was common to see and hear her perform in front of large groups of all sizes and she took this as an opportunity to share her testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through her music.

The family would like to thank caregivers at Legacy House of Taylorsville where Virginia has lived for the last three years, IMC, Paramount Care Center and CareSource for their help and support the last few weeks of her life.

Funeral services will be held Monday, May 23, 2011 at 12:00 noon in the Spencer 1 ^st Ward Chapel at 3084 South 8400 West in Magna.  Friends and family may call prior to the services from 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.  Interment: Valley View Memorial Park.  Online condolences: www.peelfuneralhome.com

Click here to listen to a recording of the service