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Virginia (Filkins) Stanton, 94

Virginia (Filkins) Stanton was born on Sept. 7, 1923, in Cleveland, Ohio. She was the youngest of four, having two brothers, Warren and Robert and sister, Beryl. They all preceded her in death.

She met her future husband, Joseph Sulgostoski, when she was 16. They were married on Nov. 1, 1941, and had their name changed to Stanton in 1942. During WWII, when Joe was in the Army and stationed in England and Germany, Ginny was home in Cleveland raising the first two of their four children, Sharon (Joseph) Culbreth, who now lives in Rathdrum, Idaho, and Gary Stanton, who resides at Life Care in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Later, Patricia (Leonard) Benes of Post Falls, and Louise (Harold) Payne of Santa, Idaho were born. Virginia, Joe and Gary moved from Euclid, Ohio, to Coeur d’Alene in 1980 when Joe retired from TRW. Virginia lost Joe to cancer in 1997 after 56 years of marriage. In 2005, Gary moved into Life Care of Coeur d’Alene, where Virginia made fast friends of the staff and residents alike. Up until September of 2017 she drove to Life Care every day to be with Gary, where many took to calling her Mom. In 2005, she moved to Orchard Ridge in Coeur d’Alene, where again she quickly became friends with the staff and residents.

She was a major cat lover, avid gardener and awesome mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great grandmother. It was hard to not find her smiling and laughing and making life a lot easier for all who met her.

She passed on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018, at the Schneidmiller Hospice House in Coeur d’Alene, after battling congestive heart failure. She is survived by her four children; granddaughters, Coreen Culbreth (who brought flowers to Virginia every week) and Kelly Culbreth; her two grandsons, Dustin and Tyson Payne (who never missed calling her a couple of times every week and were the absolute joys of her life); great-grandsons, Brad Bingham and Joe McGee and great-great grandson, Braxton Bingham.

There will be a celebration of life from 2 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018, at Life Care Center, 500 W. Aqua Ave., Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Rest in peace Sissy Fa Fa. We were blessed to have had you in our lives.

Yates Funeral Home has been entrusted with the care of final arrangements. Please visit Virginia’s online memorial and sign her guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.