Virginia Shaw

In Loving Memory of VIRGINIA RUTH SHAW Virginia (Ginger) Ruth Shaw (Gibbs) passed away at the age of 88 on February 9, 2025, at home in Roswell, NM. Ginger was born to Herman Gibbs (father) and Leota Ruth Fitzsimmons (Mother). In Bernalillo, NM on September 8, 1936. Ginger was a proud and loving mother and is survived by her three children, Donna 67 Madison, CT, Gary 64 Aurora CO, and Catherine 55 Roswell, NM. six grandchildren Corrie 37 Durango, CO, Mathew 35 New Zealand, Stephen 34 Durango, CO, Connor 33 US Army Arizona, Lauren 29 Denver CO, Christine 23 Littleton CO, and two great grandchildren Mica Gregory Durango, CO and Analie Rose Littleton CO. She was Cherished and loved and will be missed. Ginger enjoyed visiting with friends and family and telling stories about her life from growing up with her cousins on her grandparents' ranches and mills in the mountains above Las Vegas, NM, and in the Tijares Canyon Mountains near Albuquerque. Then winding up in Roswell NM at age 9, just in time to experience the world famous 1947 UFO crash incident, in which she never missed an opportunity to tell her stories about it to anyone interested. When someone would ask where she was from, she would say Roswell, NM and get a kick out of saying to them “Uh Oh are my antennas sticking out” and laugh as she pretended to push them back into her head. Ginger enjoyed her teenage years in Roswell. She was a lifeguard at Cahoon Park swimming pool. She tells the story of when she met a young Elvis Presley after a concert, he did in Roswell then he took her best friend on a date that night. She loved to dance and always had a date to the many dances held at the New Mexico Military Institute. She left Roswell soon after graduating from Roswell High school in 1956 and moved to Sonoma, CA where her father and stepmother, June, lived. There she ran a small diner she called “Gingers Diner”. She was known for her delicious giant burgers and homemade pies. Her best customer was a young Navy man named Albert (Mac) McCarthy. He fell in love with her pies and then her. They were married quickly before he was to be shipped off to Morocco Africa where, Ginger, pregnant with her first child and never been onboard a ship before, followed soon after. She tells the story of how the men on the ship made her feel so special giving her VIP treatment while on board the Navy ship. February 6, 1958, Ginger gave birth to their daughter Donna in Morocco. Three years later while stationed in Guam, they welcomed their son Gary on February 9, 1961. Her travels throughout Asia as a Navy wife led her to Japan where she studied and mastered the art of charcoal painting. She had developed a love for oriental art, food and customs. When finally returning to the U.S. they resided in Odenton, Maryland. This would be her home for several years. Here she did many things, including CNA School, Sunday school teacher and leader of a high school age Christian Singer group called Sunlight. She was an amazing seamstress, cook, baker and cake decorator to name just a few of her many talents. She enjoyed hosting parties and was loved and respected by her friends and neighbors. Her children’s friends all called her “Mom”. Most of all she was the perfect blend of Mother, Homemaker, wife and friend. Her strong Christian faith and advocate of the “Power of Prayer” undoubtably got her and her family through any hardships we would encounter. She was Ordained in the Christian Ministry through Grace Community Church in Roswell, NM in October 2002. On February 28, 1970, Ginger and Mac brought home their third child, Catherine, from the Navel Academy Hospital in Annapolis, MD. In 1971 her family was uprooted for a brief three-year stint in Okinawa Japan. Then returning to their family home in Odenton until 1982 when her husbands’ job with the National Security Agency transferred them to Aurora, Colorado. Thus, by getting her closer to her home and her roots in New Mexico that she longed for. After nearly 30 years she and Mac divorced and she returned to Roswell with her 13-year-old daughter, Catherine. She remarried in 1987 becoming Mrs. Virginia Wood for ten years. In 2004 she married her third and final love and proudly became Mrs. Virginia Shaw and sadly widowed in 2015. Like her mother, Virginia was blessed with movie star beauty and charm. Although, never becoming famous as she so deserved, she lived a long, faith-driven successful life. She was adored and loved and will be missed by all who knew her. On a personal note: Mom, it took 88 years, but I know that you are finally home and happy and satisfied to settle right where you are with Jesus. Be sure to let him know that I still need your prayers. Thank you for allowing me to spend your last eight years with you taking care of you and loving you as you did for me all my life. You have been, still are, and God willing always will be my “Guardian Angel”. I love you and miss you so much. Your daughter, Cathy As per Virginia’s wish there will be no funeral ceremony. I will be hosting a small gathering in “Celebration of her Life” very soon. Date and location will be given to anyone interested in stopping by. Just send me an email to msmac2325@gmail.com.

Virginia Shaw

September 8, 1936 - February 9, 2025