Virginia Ruth Saunders

Virgina Ruth Saunders, (Grandma Ginny or Sis) went to be with her Lord and Savior after a short battle with cancer. Virginia was born in Mack, Colorado, and this is where she lived her entire life. Growing up on a farm, with her 3 brothers and a sister, she spent most of her time outdoors, working on the family homestead. She loved to be with her siblings doing all the normal farm kid things, chores, fishing, hunting, etc. She attended Fruita Union High School, where she met and married her high school sweetheart, Robert “Bobby” Saunders.

 Bobby and Ginny were married June 25th, 1954 on the very homestead they would spend their lives together. They were just shy of being married for 70 years before Bobby passed away in 2023. Over the years of their marriage they became known really as one person. There was no Bobby without Grandma, and vice versa - they were ONE. Which makes sense on why Grandma needed to go to heaven, to be with her love again. To be with her “Bobby”. 

Over the years she helped run a dairy, and raise 4 kids, Connie, Michael, Tammi and Christina. Life was never dull when you lived so close to your siblings, nieces, and nephews. Mack was literally a big family, and Virgina was so much a part of that life. Through the years, she became a grandma, and then a great-grandma, and she never missed a minute of whatever the grandkids were doing. It would be difficult to find another great-grandma on the sidelines or bleachers of any sports event there was. Our family was truly blessed to have her so close to the children. 

The memories of Grandma at the games, and getting to go camping, fishing, 4-wheeler riding, vacations, etc. are so special to all the family. The annual family Meeker camping trips were some of the most wonderful family times with her. She always had a candy bar, piece of gum or snack for you whenever you were with her and odds are she probably had a caramel frappe also in hand for herself. Any person that would drive by her home could tell you how much she loved her yard. She was an impeccable lawn care expert, keeping her yard mowed, trimmed and pristine. She was blessed to be able to mow her lawn one last time before being called to heaven. She truly loved her yard, and could often be found sitting on her mower just cruising around the lawn especially early in the morning. She found her joy in being outside at home. Anyone that knew her understood her appreciation for the beautiful things in life, from her darling lawn ornaments, to a fashion forward outfit, to coordinating her apple watch and iphone to her clothing, along with the color-of-the-season on her nails, to the gorgeous Colorado mountains. Her life was full, it was wonderful, and it was an honor to be a part of her family. We all will truly miss her.

 Virginia is survived by her 3 daughters, Connie (Chris) Bennetts, Tammi (Jon) Murch, Christina (James) Hancock, 8 grandchildren: Laci Mease, Abbie Siegmund, Cole Murch, Tyler Valdez, Kalcy Salazar, Terra Dyk, Keshia Bambino, and Sidney Murch. She has 20 great grandchildren as well. She is also survived by her sister in laws, Betty Collins, Maureen Reed, Ruby Hodson, and Beverly Hodson. Virginia is preceded in death by her husband, Bobby Saunders, her parents, Ernest and Ruth Hodson, her son, Michael Saunders, her son-in-law, Jon Murch, her sister, Mag Marinelli, her 3 brothers, Ernest Duane Hodson, Jack Hodson, and Bert Hodson, and her brother-in-laws, Abe Marinelli, Robert Reed, Edward Collins, and Emmitt Collins.

 In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Hope West.