Virginia Dolge's Obituary
Virginia 'Ginny' Dolge, 88, of Groton Long Point, CT, died Thursday, August 27, 2009, at Penobscot Valley Hospital in Lincoln, ME, surrounded by her loving family. Born in Killingly, CT, in 1920, she was the daughter of the late Reverend William Swainson and Ethel (Sproul) Swainson. Ginny graduated in 1941 from Willimantic State Teachers College. She taught school in the towns of Killingly, West Stafford, and Stafford Springs during her career as a teacher. Ginny married James Backus in 1942. After her husband's return from the war in 1946, they lived in Cherryfield, Maine and moved to Stafford Springs, CT in 1950, where James owned and operated a Ford dealership, Backus Motors, until the time of his death in 1967. In 1973, Ginny married David Dolge. They resided in Stafford Springs until 1983, and then moved to Groton Long Point, CT. After David died in 1987, Ginny continued to live year round at Groton Long Point until 2001, after which she divided her time between living with her daughter and son-in-law in Howland, ME, and living with her son in Groton Long Point. Ginny devoted many years of her life to caregiving, caring for two husbands with long illnesses, her brother, her mother, as well as raising her two children. One of her greatest pleasures in life was dining and dancing with her husband, Jim. She enjoyed traveling and took many trips with her husband, Dave, as well as with her son and her daughter. She was a devoted fan of the Hartford Whalers and even made several visits with her son to North Carolina to cheer them on after they moved and became the Carolina Hurricanes. Ginny leaves behind her son, Robert Backus of Groton Long Point, CT; her daughter, Catherine Backus and son-in-law, Richard Hubbard, of Howland, Maine; her stepson, Albert Tucker Dolge and his wife, Judi, of Tolland, CT; and her stepson David Dolge and his wife, Martha, of Greenville, SC. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Tyler Dolge, Tara Dolge, Chandra Burnside, and Brianna Hubbard; and several nieces and nephews, including Grace Powers, John Backus, James Backus, and Donald Morgan. In addition to her two husbands, Ginny is predeceased by her sister, Frances Morgan, her brother, Greg Swainson, and her stepson, Peter Dolge. A calling hour will be held on Wednesday, September 2, 2009 from 1-2 P.M. followed by a funeral service at 2 P.M. at Introvigne Funeral Home, Inc., 51 East Main St., Stafford Springs, CT. Burial will follow in Stafford Springs Cemetery, Stafford Springs, CT. Memorial contributions may be made to Community Health and Counseling Hospice, P.O. Box 208, Lincoln, ME 04457. For online condolences or directions, please visit: www.introvignefuneralhome.com
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