Virginia Hill Bornemann
Virginia Hill Bornemann 1925 - 2013 recently passed away peacefully in her Napa, California home. She was 88.
Born in Eureka to Edward and Hazel Hill, she was the oldest of three children. She spent most of her childhood on a ranch in Hydesville, graduated from Hydesville School, Fortuna High School and Humboldt State College, where she earned a teaching credential.
After graduation, she taught elementary school in Thorn for a short time. In 1951, she accepted a teaching position with the ARAMCO Oil Company, in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, where she taught second grade to the children of the American employees. She enjoyed her teaching position for 17 years.
While living abroad, she met her husband, Rudolf Bornemann, who had been working for the Saudi Arab Government Rail Road. They enjoyed many oversees adventures together including being married in Milan, Italy; traveling through Europe by motorbike and exploring family history in England and communist East Germany.
Virginia returned to Humboldt County in 1971, settling back in Hydesville. She eventually taught embroidery part time at College of the Redwoods Branch Campus and was Home Arts Supervisor at the Redwood Acres Fair for several years. Her greatest hobby was the needle arts: needle point, cross stitch and all other forms of embroidery. She often designed her own patterns and works of art and was a guest instructor at many embroidery seminars and workshops. An active member of the Humboldt County chapter of the Embroiderer's Guild of America, she continued to inspire and teach others about embroidery. The Clark Museum in Eureka exhibits many of her original works.
In addition, Virginia enjoyed studying California native plants, flowers and was an active bird watcher. She was also very involved in the Episcopal Church Women's Group at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Fortuna and at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Napa.
She relocated to Napa three years ago so she could enjoy the company of her young grandchildren and their parents. She was preceded in death by her husband Rudolf Bornemann; and is survived by her daughter Barbara Bornemann and son-in-law James Boswell of Napa; grandchildren Nigel and Rudi Clare Boswell; sister Barbara Hill of Eureka; brother Edward Hill of Fortuna, as well as several nephews and nieces.
The family wishes to express gratitude to Napa Valley Hospice and to the Meadows of Napa Valley. A grave side service will take place at the IOOF Cemetery, 3501 A St., Hydesville at 10:30 AM, July 13th, followed by a reception at St. Francis Episcopal Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to St. Francis Episcopal Church, 568 16th Street Fortuna, CA 95540 or to Napa Valley Hospice, 414 S Jefferson St. Napa, CA 94559.
Published in Eureka Times-Standard from June 29 to July 2, 2013 - See more at: Times-Standard Legacy.