Virginia L. Koch, better known to her friends as Ginger, age 74, of Surprise, Arizona, passed away on July 5, 2023, just shy of her 75th birthday, after a long and valiant struggle with pancreatic and stomach cancer.

Ginger was born in 1948 to Hazel Frances and Claudius Byrum, in Searcy, Arkansas. After she graduated from McClellan High School in Mabelvale, Arkansas in 1966, she attended Henderson State University.

Ginger had various talents and had a breadth of work history. Initially, she worked as an architectural draftsman, and later she owned and operated businesses in construction and eateries. In 1994, she started working at Caterpillar Tractor Corporation, the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment. Initially, she worked on an engine assembly line, but for the last 10 years she was a Black Belt Trouble Shooter/Investigator for a quality control program.

In 1994, Ginger met Gary L. Koch, her husband. While Ginger did not have her own children, she was supported and loved by Gary’s children, Patricia, Christie, and Karen. In early 2023, Ginger had to retire because of her illness. Ginger was an avid animal lover, and she had several hobbies, including archery, shooting guns, hunting and fishing, flying airplanes, and riding motorcycles and horses. She was also a very talented artist, working for Colt Gun Manufacturing, crafting detailed and complicated scrimshaw work; she even worked for James B Lyle, an Arkansas knife maker.

Ginger was pre-deceased by many of her family members, including both her parents. She is survived by her loving husband Gary, Gary’s children Patricia, Christie, and Karen, her sister Patricia, her three nephews and two nieces, several great nieces and nephews, seven grandchildren, one great grandchild, and her three pets, Billy Bob (a yellow napped Amazon parrot), Rosie (a Huskey and Shepard mix), and Simone (a standard poodle).

Services will be held at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church at 9728 W. Palmeras Drive in Sun City, Arizona, on Friday, July 21, 2023, at 10:30am. Celebration of her life will be held at Paulie’s Little Bite of Italy in Sun City, Arizona. Interment will be at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, at 23029 N. Cave Creek Road, Phoenix, Arizona on July 24, 2023, at 9:00 am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church, St. Vincent De Paul’s food pantry, or to The Knights of Columbus.

Send to someone

Share this obituary with others

https://everloved.com/life-of/virginia-koch/obituary/

Copy