Virginia Rose (Van Haren) Trujillo

a third generation Arizonan, passed away June 21, 2011 with her loving family surrounding and supporting her. Little sister to Art Van Haren, Jr., Virginia was born September 10, 2928 to Arthur Van Haren, Sr. (Arizona Sports Hall of Fame Honoree) and Rose (Valenzuela) Van Haren, who were highly-respected community leaders in the Valley and the State. Virginia embraced civic responsibility as a founding member of the Vesta Club, as one of the early inductees into Las Damas del Valle (a scholarship organization that is still vital to this day), and as a 61-year parishioner of St. Agnes Catholic Church. Mrs. Trujillo is survived by two sons, Arnold F. “Nolly” Trujillo (Linda) and Edward Trujillo (Sandy); and two daughters, Valerie June (Richard), and Dolores Field; thirteen grandchildren; and nineteen great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by her parents Arthur and Rose Van Haren, her cherished husband, Arnold R. (“Nolly”) Trujillo, and her brother, Arthur Van Haren, Jr., a decorated World War II aviator and local attorney. Virginia attended Emerson School in Phoenix, and graduated from Phoenix Union High School shortly before falling in love with a popular softball pitcher who had been recruited to the Valley from California. Nolly (aka “Iron Man”) Trujillo (who ultimately retired from the Phoenix Fire Department and was posthumously inducted into the Arizona Softball Hall of Fame) married the umpire’s daughter on APril 8, 1938 – and the two started their family the following spring. For several generations to come, the home they built over 60 years ago was the center of the universe for friends and family. During her teen years, Virginia worked as an usher at the original Orpheum Theater in downtown Phoenix. Later, she worked for the Arizona Department of Transportation – MVD. While softball and baseball were a lifelong affinity for Virginia, she was also a rabid Sun Devils football fan — maintaining her ASU season tickets for over four decades. Other interests included laughter, entertaining, travel, reading and television (especially celebrity news), movies and slot machines — as well as shopping for gifts, current fashions in petite sizes, and cute shoes with heels. Visitation on Friday, June 24, 2011 at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, AZ 85018 from 6:00-8:00 PM; Rosary and Scripture Service at 7:00 PM. Memorial Service at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 1954 N. 24th Street, Phoenix on Saturday, June 25, 2011 at 10:00 AM, with Interment following at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery. The family gives heartfelt thanks to Hospice of the Valley for their outstanding care of Virginia (and all of us) during her final days. Favorite charities: St. Agnes Catholic Church, and Hospice of the Valley, 340 E. Coronado, Phoenix, AZ 85004.