Virginia Shelley McGraw

Published 8:20 am Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Virginia Shelley McGraw

June 19, 1930 – December 30, 2023

Virginia Shelley McGraw, a long-time resident of the Rogue Valley, died peacefully on December 30th 2023, in Portland, Oregon. She was born on June 19th 1930 to Herbert and Josephine Shelley in Alhambra, CA, a California girl from the start.

Always a scholar, Virginia graduated with honors from Diablo High School and headed off to the University of California. While at Berkeley she met and married the love of her life, Kenneth R. McGraw. With a shared love of education and travel, they moved their growing family to Europe in 1957 where they spent the next fourteen years living in five different countries while working in American military schools. In 1971 the family moved to Medford and Virginia embraced life in the Rogue Valley. She taught for many years in the Central Point School District. Upon retirement she turned to travel and volunteering, exploring the world with the Friendship Force, volunteering at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, hosting musicians performing for the Britt Music Festival, and supporting the American Association of University Women. Fifty years after she arrived in the Valley, she reluctantly moved north to Portland to be near family. We were blessed to spend so much time with her during her last few years.

Virginia is proceeded in death by her husband Kenneth McGraw, daughter Shelley McGraw and sister Laura Cramer. She is survived by her sister Jeanne Sandford, her children Robin May, Christopher McGraw and Michael McGraw, her grandchildren Nicholas, Majken, Hanna, Ashlynn, Katie and Patrick, and six great grandchildren.

As Virginia requested, there will be no memorial service. However, Virginia would encourage you to raise a glass of good Oregon Pinot Noir in a toast to her, friends and family. Gifts in memory can be made to the Britt Festival – Classical Fund https://www.brittfest.org/donations/