Obituary of Virginia C. Stabler

Virginia C. Stabler, 91, of Broomfield, Colorado, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Saturday, September 4, 2010, at HospiceCare of Boulder and Broomfield Counties after a brief illness. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gerhard "Gary" Stabler in 1996. The couple married in 1947. Virginia lived in Hawley for 56 years before moving to Colorado 4 years ago. Born December 31, 1918, in New York City, she was the daughter of the late Emma and Harry Goodhart. Her brother, William H. Goodhart, preceded her in death in 1999. She is survived by her daughter Karen Barr and husband David of Broomfield. Also, surviving are her grandchildren Tracey Lanham and husband Ken, of Broomfield, and Keith Barr and wife Michele, and great-granddaughters Emily and Kennedy Barr of Erie, CO. Virginia worked as a laboratory technician in the Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, as an assembler of complex aviation instrumentation for Fluidometer Corporation during World War II and many will remember her as a long-time employee of The Craft House in Hawley. Virginia was a member of the St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Hawley where she sang in the choir for 37 years. Virginia loved the Ritz Company Playhouse where she was a performing member and a Trustee on the Board of Directors for over 30 years. She appeared in more than 100 different plays and musicals, and her operatic soprano voice routinely thrilled audiences. When Virginia left Hawley for Colorado, the Ritz bestowed upon her the title of Director Emeritus and reserved Seat I-10 in her name in perpetuity. A memorial service to celebrate Virginia's life will be held on Saturaday, October 23, at 11:00am at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 405 Church St., Hawley. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Virginia's remembrance can be made to either the Ritz Company Playhouse, 512 Keystone Street, Hawley, or to HospiceCare of Boulder and Broomfield Counties, 2594 Trailridge Drive East, Lafayette, CO 80026 (hospicecaronline.org).