Virginia “Ginger” Lee Phillipe, beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, has passed away peacefully on August 27, 2026, In Spokane, Washington, at the age of 79.

Ginger was born in Ione, Washington, on November 3 rd , 1946. The youngest of ten children born to Lora Lunette Lambourn. Lora relocated to Spokane, Washington, and Ginger made her lifetime home in Spokane.

Ginger was a devoted homemaker and mother. She enjoyed spending time with her three children, James Gregory Atabelo, John Jeffrey Atabelo, and Jennifer Lee Atabelo McCandless.

Ginger enjoyed ceramics, puzzles, card games, competitive bowling, and she loved her plants.

Her memory will be kept alive by her three children, Greg, Jeff and his wife, Kristie Atabelo, and Jennifer and her husband, Kyle McCandless. She is the proud grandmother to numerous grandchildren, several great-grandchildren, and she even became a great-great-grandmother.

Her family finds comfort in knowing Ginger is now at peace, happily reunited with her dear sister, Janet, whom she lost in a tragic car accident when Ginger was only 17. Also reunited with her mother Lora, her grandchildren, Daylen Atabelo and Tunishia Martin, and other family that went before her.

A memorial service to honor Ginger’s life will be held on Friday, September 11, 2026, at 2:00 pm at Holy Cross Cemetery.