Virginia was born Patricia Virginia Lobato on June 24, 1957 in Stockton, CA. The Lobato family had their early start in Roberts Island. Virginia enjoyed living in the country. She gained her strength and wittiness from her mother Lelia.
She was preceded in death by her parents Max and Lelia Lobato and her oldest brother Jake Lobato. Referring to herself as the “middle-middle child”, Virginia is survived by her two sisters Leigh Yarbrough (husband Larry) and Geri Llorente (husband Tony) and their youngest brother Max Lobato along with nieces and nephews.
As children, Virginia and her siblings acquired their early spiritual guidance from their Uncle Sam through the vivid pictures of the Paradise Lost book. These nuggets of truth stayed with her as she grew up. She graduated from Stagg High School in 1975. The early seeds of spiritual truth eventually started to grow when Virginia came in contact with the truth again as a teenager. She accepted these truths and made them her own. As a result, Virginia dedicated her life to Jehovah and was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses on July 16, 1976 at Oakland, California. This began her most precious and fulfilling career: serving the Most-High God!
Virginia had an interesting employment journey. After several jobs she finally found the job she enjoyed. She worked as a program assistant at KOVR Channel 13 in Stockton. Her natural ability of professionalism was enhanced by her friendly, accommodating manner, putting the guests at ease. Later, she began to work for California Department of Motor Vehicles, at the Driver Safety office in Stockton in 1989, eventually relocating to the Sacramento office. Deciding it was time for a change, and less commute time, she transferred to the Caltrans District 10 office in Stockton, in the Project Management Division, until her retirement in December of 2016.
She married the love of her life Michael Wooding on January 6, 1996 in Stockton, CA. Jehovah blessed their lives together and they enjoyed a beautiful marriage of over 25 years, strengthened and enriched with spiritual goals. (Proverbs 31:11) They served tirelessly together as LDC volunteers working on Audio Visual Systems throughout the area, both in Kingdom Halls and at the Fairfield Assembly Hall. In 2019, she realized her goal of becoming a regular pioneer, focusing on teaching others about Jehovah full-time. She felt at home doing public witnessing at the cart in Lodi, where she would flex her informal witnessing skills, talking to anyone who would come by and ask a question or just say “Hi”. She was able to enjoy the ministry conducting bible studies by video and phone even during the pandemic.
She was affectionately well known for her love of flowers, cooking, interior decorating, entertaining – being full of vim, vigor, and vitality! She often shared her time, her garden veggies and anything else she had with friends and family. Virginia was very industrious – never afraid of hard work and getting dirty. Many would be surprised to find out that she enjoyed tent camping, fishing and taking care of her friend’s chickens. Once you met her you wouldn’t forget her smile, sense of humor and laughter. She often traveled to visit the headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses in New York, to visit friends and family living there. There were other vacations too, in different parts of the world. And some exciting trips with the friends from the area. There were a number of memorable trips with family to Tahiti, Hawaii… just plain old camping.
Virginia’s faith and hope in the promised earthly Paradise burned bright! She looked forward to Jehovah’s promises being fulfilled when she would awaken to see loved ones, all in perfect health with the indescribable joy of everlasting life. (Proverbs 31:25)
“She is clothed with strength and splendor, And she looks to the future with confidence.”
– Proverbs 31:25