Virginia May Rawson (née Alexander), 82, passed away Jan. 30, 2025, in Manassas, Va., at Prince William Medical Center due to cardiac failure. A longtime resident of Lancaster, Calif., she had recently relocated to Warrenton, Va., to be near her daughter.

Born on Dec. 24, 1942, in Sandpoint, Idaho, Virginia was the fifth of eight children of Roy D. and Jessie Alexander (née Cain). She is survived by her sister, Ruth Ann Harper of Sandpoint, Idaho, and her daughter, Kimberlee Calvert (née Bruno) and son-in-law Dan Calvert of Warrenton.

Virginia proudly served her country in the United States Air Force as a clerk at Otis Air Force Base in Massachusetts from 1962 to 1966. Following her military service, she married in 1967 and welcomed her daughter in 1968. Virginia graduated from the University of Albuquerque Nursing Program in 1977. For over four decades, she worked as a registered critical care nurse across the western United States until retiring in California in 2019.

In 2020, Virginia moved to Virginia to spend her remaining years close to her daughter. Never one to remain idle, she worked part-time as a pharmacy technician at the Warrenton Safeway Pharmacy and seasonally at Merrifield Garden Center in Manassas — a role she greatly enjoyed. A lover of nature and animals, Virginia cultivated a beautiful rose garden in California and embraced adventurous pursuits like scuba diving, whitewater rafting, and skydiving on her 50th birthday.

Virginia's legacy is one of hard work, humor, independence, and patriotism. She supported veterans and animal organizations throughout her life. Her wishes were to be cremated and for no formal service. 

In her memory, donations may be made to the VFW or Middleburg Humane Foundation. May she rest in eternal peace.