Virginia M. Cutler

Virginia Margaret Cutler (née Ginger Schott), 85, passed away on Aug. 30, 2022. Virginia was born in Pittsburgh, PA, to Eugene and Eleanor Schott on May 17, 1937. She attended Sacred Heart Roman Catholic High School (now known as Oakland Catholic). She married William Steele Cutler on Nov. 18, 1955. They honeymooned in Atlantic City, where the young William — who later became an executive at the Sears Tower in Chicago — ran his own vacuum cleaner and sewing machine company. They resided in Naperville, IL. Virginia received her Associate of Arts degree in Psychology and Police Science from the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn. Her professional career started in Illinois — first, at the state Department of Corrections, where she won the prestigious Governor’s Award of Excellence for her work with troubled adolescents — then as the Director of Adolescent Psychiatric Services at the Mercy Center for Health Care Services in Aurora. After the couple moved to Denver, Virginia distinguished herself as an award-winning sales associate in electronics and major appliances at Sears. Later Virginia put her studies in Police Science to work as the Loss Prevention and Risk Management director for one of Sears’ A-level suburban stores in Littleton, CO. Retirement was calling when William and Virginia realized a dream — moving first to Albuquerque (where they enjoyed the desert air, Southwestern culture and many relaxing evenings in the hot tub) — and finally to Sun City West, AZ. There, Virginia worked as a volunteer and trainer for the Maricopa County Sheriff’s vaunted “Sun City West Posse.” Virginia received her training as a Eucharistic Minister for the Prince of Peace Roman Catholic parish in Sun City West. She performed masses and delivered Holy Communion to home-bound congregants at Banner Del Webb Hospital and various nursing facilities throughout the community. Virginia was known by all (even her children’s grown and long-away childhood friends) for her sparkling sense of humor, playful personality and keen intellect. She was a gourmet cook and hostess, a loving and supportive spouse and an affectionate mother whose children adored her. Virginia is preceded in death by her parents and her husband of 52 years, William. She is survived by her children — Kenneth Cutler (and Leigh Otto) of Denver and Sun City, AZ; and Karlin McCarthy, of Phoenix — her brother Gary (and Dorothy) Schott of Omaha and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Virginia’s favorite charities were the Arizona Humane Society (azhumane.org) — in remembrance of her dear and devoted pet dachshund, Pal; the Lakota (Sioux) children at St. Joseph’s Indian School (stoj.org) in Chamberlain, SD; and the American Friends of Magen David Adom (afmda.org) in Israel.