Virginia L. Wardwell

Virginia L. Wardwell passed away at the age of 102 years old, on August 29th, 2025 at her home in Santa Barbara, CA.

She was born in Jersey City, New Jersey on February 8th, 1923. She graduated high school and moved to New York City to live with her aunt and pursue her dream of becoming a dress designer. She attended night classes at the Fashion Institute of America. Around the age of 20, she drove across the country with a friend to Los Angeles, California. She worked in various jobs and eventually got jobs in the fashion industry. With that experience she was able to open her own manufacturing company creating women’s clothing.

She then moved into Real Estate and she said she always wanted to retire in Santa Barbara, California. In 1986, she managed to do just that. She loved Santa Barbara because, as she said, “everything is only 10 minutes away”.

She joined Newcomers when she arrived and made good friends there. She was active in the guild for Choir of Voyces, and worked very hard to become a docent at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. As a docent, her favorite part was bringing presentations to elementary school children. This gave her great pleasure. She also spent some time counting seal pups from the bluffs and serving breakfasts with the Elks Lodge.

In her time in Los Angeles, she volunteered for 10 years with the LA chapter of NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill), and served as president for 2 years. She found this work deeply rewarding. Her interests included painting on silk fabric and making clothing from her silk creations.

She is survived by her son, Robert S. Wardwell of Lakewood, CA and her daughter, Alexandra Wardwell of Santa Barbara, CA.

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