Virginia Ruth Haynes

January 15, 1941 - July 26, 2011

Virginia Ruth Haynes passed away on Tuesday (July 26, 2011) at her home from natural causes. She was 70 years old.

Virginia was born on Jan. 15, 1941 in Los Angeles, Cal. to parents Franklin and Lorraine (Gronewald) Haynes. She grew up with her younger brother in the Los Angeles suburbs and graduated from Leuzinger High School in 1958.

In 1962, she earned a B.A. degree in Art from U.C.L.A. and landed a dream job working at Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the largest art museum in the western United States. Virginia liked to wander through the collections, which encompass the geographic world and virtually the entire history of art. She was heavily influenced during this time by the work of Latin American artists, the photography of Ansel Adams, and a traveling exhibition of Pablo Picasso.

Virginia enjoyed classical music and sang regularly with her church choir. She was rehearsing when she first met Theodore Price, a classical pianist who accompanied the choir on the organ pipes. They were engaged in June 1962 and married in Jan. 1963.

After four years living in Los Angeles apartments, the young couple moved east to follow Ted’s career path as a music critic through Washington, D.C. and Akron, Ohio. In Washington, Virginia worked a short time at the Smithsonian Institution, where she kindled a lifelong passion for documenting and preserving cultural heritage. In Akron, Virginia gave birth to their two sons.

The family moved to Rochester, in 1972. Not long after moving, Virginia and Ted grew estranged, separated, and were divorced. For the next 15 years, Virginia took on the dual role of a working mother, juggling jobs in interior design at JCPenney with freelance graphic design. In her spare time, she fashioned custom dollhouses, built dioramas, and fired ceramics in her basement.

When her sons left for college, Virginia settled in Andover, refurbishing antique furniture and eventually singing with the Ecumenical Choir. At length, she decided to go back to school at Alfred State College to build her digital design palette. After completing her A.A.S. in Computer Art and Design, she volunteered to design a new brochure for the Jean B. Lang Western N.Y. Historical Collection, dedicated in February 2002.

Soon after, she earned her M.A.I.S. degree and was asked to use her talents on Ergo Magazine, the literary and artistic publication of Alfred State College. By 2009, she was the Creative Director and Photographer for the Anniversary Spring issue. Her creative ability was recognized at the end of her academic course, when her digital artwork was selected for display in the President’s office.

Virginia also worked on projects in the Andover community, including a visitor’s informational brochure with a map, photographs and statistics. In the fall of 2008, she assisted with the revival of the Andover Historical Society, and in May 2009 she delivered a program to the Society titled “Writing History – From Facts to Fiction.”

Virginia is survived by her brother Allan Haynes of Garden Grove, Cal.; her son Jason Price of Valencia, Cal.; her son Brendan Price of Shelby Township, Mich.; a niece, a nephew, and four grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, Aug. 14 at 2:00 pm at Andover Presbyterian Church, with Rev. Pat Bancroft, of Alfred Seventh Day Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Baker-Swan Funeral Home in Andover, and online condolences may be offered at www.baker-swan.com.