Virginia May Kurata
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Virginia May Kurata, aged 96 to near perfection, caught her comet to eternal life in Heaven on September 21, 2018. Surrounded at her bedside by close family members, Virginia departed peacefully with her eyes closed and her heart full of love and compassion for all of humanity.
She was the first born to Milton “Pap” and Elizabeth Mefford in a coal mining camp in Star City, West Virginia next to Morgantown on May 25, 1922. The Mefford family moved around often from camp to camp in the region, eventually settling near Washington, PA where Virginia and her sister, Louise, and two brothers, Mel and Don, attended local schools. Following high school graduation during the Great Depression, Virginia found work as a secretary for a company named Protected Steel Products in Washington, PA. Soon thereafter, she would meet Fred Kurata, a Japanese-American and the love of her life, who worked at the company as a plant engineer.
When the U.S. entered WW II following Pearl Harbor, Virginia and her two younger brothers, Mel (deceased) and Don (deceased), became members of what former NBC news anchor Tom Brokaw described in his highly acclaimed book, “The Greatest Generation,” by answering their country’s call to serve in the war effort. Fred had proposed to Virginia, but she told him he would have to wait until after she had finished her service in the United States Marine Corps. Fred waited patiently, writing and sending a love letter every day to Virginia while she was a Marine. Following her honorable discharge, Virginia and Fred married on January 14, 1946 in Maryland, one of a handful of states at the time without laws forbidding inter-racial marriage.
After countless rejection letters, Fred finally got his chance to pursue his true professional passions, teaching and research in chemical and petroleum engineering, after successful interviews with the late chemical engineering professors at KU, James O. Maloney and Shelby Miller. Virginia, Fred and their first son, Phil, settled into a new life during January, 1947 in Lawrence, Kansas where Virginia and Fred would remain the rest of their lives.
In addition to Phil, Fred and Virginia raised, educated and launched three more kids: Elizabeth, Doug and Tom. While Fred taught, and drove his graduate students crazy with frequent all-night data collecting sessions at KU, Virginia happily kept them fortified with sandwiches, gallons of coffee and other goodies from her kitchen. She had a magical touch with people and naturally built and nurtured life-long friendships with countless people in Lawrence and at KU while working full-time as a homemaker. Her love of family and friends was unconditional and without boundaries. She expressed her deep Christian faith through active participation over several decades at Plymouth Congregational Church. She found ways to love people completely without complete understanding of them, all without expecting anything in return. Virginia’s ethos was driven by the notion, “be the miracle you wish to see in others.”
Virginia and Fred traveled extensively in Asia, Europe, Latin America, North Africa and East Africa during Fred’s sabbatical leaves from K.U. They also traveled the world to visit Phil, Elizabeth, Doug and Tom wherever they might be on the planet pursuing careers in journalism, medicine, business and chemical engineering. Virginia learned to adapt, overcome, improvise and appreciate the rich and challenging cultural and linguistic environments she found herself in, all the time humbly speaking the universal language of wide smiles, big hugs and warm handshakes with whomever she met.
It has been said that there is no love more powerful than the love a mother has for her children. No doubt, Virginia deeply loved and took great pride in her kids and their families. She looked upon her 3 daughters-in-law as if they were her own daughters. The love Virginia expressed to her 10 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren was infinite.
It has also been said that on facing the pearly gates of Heaven St. Peter asks two questions of each new arrival, the answers to which determine whether you get in or not. The first is whether you brought joy to others. The second is whether you found joy in your own life. Virginia can honestly answer yes to each.
During a sermon, many years ago, Rev. Peter Luckey compared human lives to streams flowing into the same river headed towards whatever Heaven lies in the mist beyond the falls. So now, Virginia, you are free to go to your great beyond. You fulfilled your mission on Earth with grace and dignity. To those of us you touched, we will never forget you. We salute you. Bravo Zulu and Semper Fi, Virginia. With love and Godspeed, close your eyes, keep your heart open and ride your comet to Heaven.
Virginia’s family expresses its appreciation for the loving care and attention by the staffs at Pioneer Ridge Retirement Community, Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Warren-McElwain Mortuary and Rev. Peter Luckey. Virginia requested cremation and her ashes will rest next to Fred’s at Pioneer Cemetery in Lawrence, Kansas at a later date. A celebration of life for Virginia will be held on Tuesday, September 25, 2018, 4:00 pm at Pioneer Ridge Independent Living.
For more information or to post a condolence go to warrenmcelwain.com.
Kurata family,
We are so sorry for your loss.
We knew Virginia as a very proud Grandmother to Ken and his younger
sister. What a wonderful lady who will be missed!
Randy and Susan Pierson
We are sorry to hear about your loss. Though I never met Virginia, I heard wonderful things from Tom about her and am glad she was in your lives for as long as she was.
Our sympathy to the entire family, what a beautiful obituary! She had to have been a joy to be around. We’re thinking of all of you. Sincerely Phil and Rita Wilkins.
Our deepest condolences on the passing of your dear Mom and grandma. We remember her as sweet and caring from our annual summer interaction as Hasan ,Alia and Zia traveled to Kansas.
Elizabeth and Kurata family,
Please find peace, happiness, and love in the memories our souls keep until we meet again. Thank you for being there for me during my time of need.
My prayers are with you. i hope for peace through this difficult time I remember having lunch with my mother , Alpha Lusk and Virginia They enjoyed visiting with each other while we all listened to Liz talk about her travels Perhaps the two are visiting about Liz and I now !! My ears are burning. Love to you all. Linda Norman
Condolences to the families. Wish you all peace and comfort.
Sending my heartfelt condolences for your loss of this amazing woman, Mother & Grandmother. You were truly Blessed to have her in your lives for so long. Her gift to you is the Golden Thread of Life… full of memories and loved ones. God Bless!
I had the great pleasure of taking care of her towards the end. I loved getting to know you all and hearing many stories about her wonderful life. What an amazing woman and family you all have been blessed with. Sending my prayers and condolences.
Elizabeth, Alia, and Zia:
I have so many wonderful memories of ’Nani’ when I was a young girl whom spent most of my days with Alia and Zia, especially during summertime. Nani would treat me as if I was part of your family, and she always met me at her front door with that beautiful smile and her outstretched, warm arms to give me a hug. I still have a photo which shows the very young, inseparable duo of Alia and me with our arms around each other in front of Nani’s house. I was sporting new bright orange shorts my mother Karen had sewn for me matched with a bright turquoise t-shirt. That is only one of many happy memories I’ll carry with me forever. I love you all, and I thank you so much for taking me in like family. Nani was so loved and will certainly be missed.
Wow! I wish I would have visited more often these most recent years. I was most fortunate for having you as my second mom 1975-76, my senior year of high school, when I stayed with you and Fred while my mom and dad were in England on sabbatical. Scott Mesler
Mary Wiley (my mother) and Marion Willey (my aunt) played bridge with Virginia for all of my childhood. The women would dress up in the early days as they looked forward to an evening without kids or husbands. Such a lovely obituary. What an incredible life she led and what an amazing legacy she leaves. May grief soon pass into wonderful memories.
Dear Kurata kids…you might remember me…i used to baby sit you kids when we all lived on West 9th street many years ago. We first met when we lived in the old Sunnyside apartment for KU faculty….about 1948. Phillip was a toddler, and I went to Cordley School. Joan and I live at Presbyterian Manor here in Lawrence. My mom Dorothy lived here and passed away at 100. Both mom and dad are at Pioneer Cemetery…i have seen your dad’s stone up there. On west 9th you had a white dog named “Cobena>” I always enjoyed your mother and dad. i last saw your mom at my mom’s 100 birthday in 2010. Blessings to our family.
Pete Anderson (80)
I am so sorry for your loss. Your mom was a wonderful woman and a pretty terrific aunt to me. I have so many fond memories of your mom and your family and I will cherish them always. My heart goes out to you. Hugs, Donna
Tom and family,
I’m so sorry to hear of your loss. Although I didn’t know her, I do know that the passing of the family matriarch is a huge transition. Your tribute to your mother in the form of her obituary is so lovely. May you all find peace and comfort in your many wonderful memories of your beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, sister.
In caring and sympathy,
Rita Wagner
Lawrence Oncology Center
People and families are complex, and though she never reached out to me, Virginia was kind to me when I was 20 and reached out to her. I wish you all well.
Miyako Tachibana:
What a beautiful obituary. Our heartfelt condolences for your loss of an incredible
mother, grandmother, great grandmother. I had the privilege of talking to Virginia on the phone a few years back and found her to be an incredibly lovely and kind woman. Her warm and tender spirit touched my heart and I will never forget
the goodness and kindness she filled me with. She was special!
We’ll get to meet in heaven Virginia.