Virginia Elsa Barson Oliver

Our beautiful mother, sister, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt and friend returned to the loving arms of her Savior on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. She was undoubtedly welcomed by her Sweet William, parents, grandparents and younger brother, Vincent, Fae Oliver Brown and Larry Oliver. Virginia Elsa Barson Oliver was born to Aaron V. and Margaret Miller Barson on January 24, 1941. She was the second of nine children. She was an integral part of her family as she and her older sister aided her parents in raising their six rambunctious brothers. Their home was filled with activity, adventures, music and love. Virginia came by her innate love of people, compassion and endless inclusive nature at her mother’s knee. 

Virginia was born with an extraordinarily beautiful alto voice. From a very early age she and her sister were offered numerous opportunities to sing in and around Cache Valley. She participated in musicals during her high school years and Madrigals at USU. In later years she thoroughly loved her time within the Jay Welch chorale.

Virginia fulfilled the full measure of her creative nature through participation in educational endeavors, music, rearing two beautiful daughters and their families, while creating her own home filled with love. She loved Bill’s two children, Fae and Larry, as her own. 

She graduated from Utah State University with a degree in languages, with an emphasis in French. She completed a scholarship internship from the Unisersitẻ Laval in Quebec, Canada in their full immersion program while at USU. She later completed her teaching certification as well as her Spanish certification.

After a few years of teaching, she and her sister, together with friends, decided to experience life outside of Utah and moved to Honolulu, Hawaii. There she met the love of her life, Bill (William) Molen Oliver. Bill worked for the Atomic Energy Commission at that time and was smitten by the dark haired, innocent beauty from Clarkston, Utah! Their friendship matured into love and they were married August 17, 1968. They later sealed their union in the Logan, Utah temple.

Virginia was a well-loved educator. Because of her natural gifts, she taught a wide variety of grade levels. She enjoyed watching the accomplishments of former students. Once a student of Mrs. Oliver, you were never forgotten. She completed her career after thirty-five years of motivating students. Fellow educators easily became life-long friends.

Virginia’s life and love was centered on her girls, family and her abiding faith. Endless celebrations were enjoyed within the families including, but not limited to Summer Campouts, Christmas, New Year’s, Thanksgiving, July 4th festivities, July 24th celebrations, birthdays, any and all reasons that could be thought of to bring loved ones together! Our gatherings will miss her sweet presence and enduring love, not to mention her caramels!

Virginia leaves behind her two daughters; Michelle (Stacy) Adams and Lisa (Mark) Brady, as well as loving grandchildren: Nisha (Kyle) Stewart, Cierra (Jose) Rodrigues, Hunter and Remi Brady, Chelsey, Alex, Dexter, Erika Adams, and thirteen great-grandchildren. She has one sister Beverly Anna Hunt; six brothers; Lyle (Janice), Aaron Jr (Kathy), Harold (Vivian), Larry (Irene), Ralph (Cheryl) and Terry Barson as well as their families, and many loved cousins.

Funeral services will be conducted on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 in the Butler 20th Ward chapel, 1355 East 7200 South, Cottonwood Heights, Utah at 11:00 AM, with the viewing from 9:30 am to 10:45 am on July 2 . Please note: 7200 South is NOT Fort Union Blvd. Burial will be in the Clarkston City Cemetery with interment scheduled at 2:30 PM.

The family wishes to thank the doctors and staff at Intermountain Medical and Intermountain Hospice, the Butler 20th Ward Bishopric and Relief Society for their care of our beautiful mother, sister and friend.

Services will be under the direction of Goff Mortuary, 8090 South State Street, Midvale, UT.

The service will be livestreamed on the Goff Mortuary Facebook Page at the following link: 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Funeral-Service---Cemetery/Goff-Mortuary-116988261695382/

(The livestream video will appear when the service starts.)