Virginia—“Ginnie” to her friends—was born in 1934 in St. David, Illinois, the third of six children and only daughter of Melvin Clark Donaho (1903–74) and Lillie Julia (Tozier) Donaho (1910–93).
Ginnie grew up in and around Havana, IL, where she met her high school sweetheart, H. Byron Earhart. They were married in 1956, a few years after graduating from Havana HS. As Byron pursued his PhD, the young couple lived in Chicago (1956–62) and Sendai, Japan (1962–65), sparking a lifelong interest in Japanese culture. After settling in Kalamazoo, MI, Virginia resumed her own studies in 1973, receiving a Masters of Education from Western Michigan University in 1978. For 25 years, she taught kindergarten through second grade at Bangor Elementary School (Bangor, MI), where she challenged and inspired hundreds of children to do and be their best. She and Byron retired to San Diego in 1999 to be closer to their grandchildren. She devoted her retirement years to traveling, crafting, bridge, and compiling and editing the Earhart-Donaho Family Cookbook. She planned for Christmas year-round and loved bringing the whole family together to celebrate holidays. She was a member of Hope United Methodist Church of Rancho Bernardo, CA.
She is survived by her husband Byron; sons Kenneth (Florence Fong) and David (Susumu Kamimura) of San Diego, CA, and Paul (Mary Minor) of Portland, OR; grandchildren Michelle Bearheart (Jack Bearheart) and Adrienne Earhart of San Diego, and Bryce Earhart and Dylan Earhart of Portland, OR; and great grandchild Asa Bearheart of San Diego. Predeceased by brothers Melvin, Waldo, Kermit, and Timothy Donaho, she is survived by brother Terry Donaho of Decatur, IL and numerous nephews, nieces, grandnephews, and grandnieces.
Online tributes can be posted to https://www.hurleyfh.com. Private graveside service and interment at Laurel Hill Cemetery, Havana, Illinois.
Hurley Funeral Home in Havana is in charge of arrangements.
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