Virginia ‘Ginger’ Lee (Eckley) Stuemke

Published 1:34 pm Monday, August 20, 2018

March 1, 1927 – June 1, 2018 –

Ginger Stuemke went to bed and passed in peace at her home in Orange, California. She was a second generation Orange County resident. She lived in Orange, California, and retired in Bend, Oregon. Ginger attended Orange High School (Majorette, CFS Field Hockey Champion) and California State University at Fullerton, earning BA and MA Degrees in and Anthropology and Archaeology. She was part of the Public Antiquities Salvage Team Archaeologist, Principle Investigator and Field Crew Leader.

A single mother raising four children, working as an office manager for Payne Webber in Long Beach, California, Ginger pulled up her bootstrings and followed her passion to finish her education with a Master’s Degree in Anthropology with an emphasis on Archaeology. She was outstanding in the field – an archaeologist’s joke but true. As a scholar, she learned Greek (classic and common), French and some Arabic that came in useful as a crew leader at the Temple of Tutankhamen excavation with Smithsonian’s Earth Watch program.

Upon retirement in 1989, she moved to Bend in Central Oregon and later taught the Introduction to Anthropology at Central Oregon Community College. She moved back to her home in Southern California recently to be with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Family was always important and expressed by her generosity especially with a celebration of the holidays and savory gatherings.

An avid reader, she read up to five books a week (numerous genres). Crossword puzzles were completed daily in ink including the New York Times and the Oregonian. Movies were a passion especially the classics, but she also loved so many of the current offerings.

She is survived by her four children, Victoria ‘Vicki’ (Stuemke) Serrao, Scott Eric Stuemke, Jon ‘Fritz’ Fredrick Stuemke and Kurt G. Stuemke. She was the proud grandmother of 7 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. Her mother, Jeannie Marie ‘Jean’ (Walter/Eckley) Ali, father, Lee Eckley and adopting parents, Emma ‘Billie’ (Walter – sister of Jean) and Garland Wesley Coltrane, and granddaughter, Adena Lee Stuemke preceded her in passing.

She joined our Creator off the windward side of the Big Island of Hawaii. Aloha to one who is always loved, respected and will always live in our hearts. We must remember that Ohana (family) above all is our greatest blessing.