Fillmore resident Virginia “Jean” Griffin passed away Wednesday, May 27, 2015 after a 2 ½ year-long courageous battle with ovarian cancer. Jean is preceded in death by her parents Ivan and Naomi Winteregg of Van Nuys, CA and her identical twin sister Pat Dixon (Fillmore, CA).
Jean was born and raised in Van Nuys, CA. As a young person Jean’s life centered around her family and the extended family of the Van Nuys Missionary Church.
Jean began a career in the banking industry shortly after graduating from Van Nuys High School. She married her high school sweetheart Kenny Griffin at the age of 19 and together they had 3 children: Steven Ray Griffin, Karen Griffin Thayer (Fillmore, CA) and Denise Griffin Carter (Conway, AR).
Jean devoted her energy to raising her three children in the San Fernando Valley. Her hobbies included cycling and walking. In her 50’s she and a group of friends walked 60 miles in one day! After retirement Jean moved to Fillmore to be near her daughter Karen and her family. In 2006 Karen and Jean started Mimstar, a personalized photo gift and apparel shop in Fillmore. Jean was hardworking, silent partner in the business…quietly keeping the books and the inventory while stealing the hearts of all who met her.
Jean is survived by her sisters: Colleen Lehman (Placerville, CA and Norma Hanson (Carlsbad, CA) her children: Steve, Karen (Fillmore, CA) and Denise (Conway, AR); her grandchildren: Maia Thayer (Fillmore, CA), Stephanie Rodriguez (Dover, DE), Kirk Kuykendahl (Conway, AR) and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial and celebration of Jean’s life will be held on Saturday, June 13th at 2pm at Skillin-Carroll Mortuary 600 N. Central Av., Fillmore, CA with Rev. Ed McRae officiating.