Virginia W. Macdonald Enjoyed Island Retirement

Virginia (Ginnie) Woodburn Macdonald of West Tisbury, widow of Gilbert H. Macdonald and Herbert Combra Sr. died on Friday, Nov. 12 after a long illness.

Ginnie was born in Woburn on May 30, 1919, the daughter of Effie and Walter Scott Farnham. She began working at age 11 for the Everett Printing Company in Boston and married at age 19 while enjoying her free time touring the east coast on a fully dressed 1941 Indian Motorcycle. Trips to Niagara Falls, Virginia Beach, the Skyline Drive as well as many midnight excursions were part of her agenda during the 1940's.

Ginnie was an accomplished piano player and performed at the Candlelight Room at Kenmore Square in Boston. She also played with the Ken Hannan Band in the Boston area.

She arrived on Martha's Vineyard in 1950 with her two sons and secured a job with the Rexall Drug Store in Oak Bluffs. Her working career on the Vineyard included Island Technical Service, Ed Luthrop's recording studio, Boston Bakery and Market with her husband, Herbert Combra Sr. Other ventures included the Grapevine Newspaper, The Co-operative Bank, Foster's Silva's banking adventure, the Martha's Vineyard Hospital Radiology Dept. under Dr. Levine, Macdonald's Rug and Carpets with her husband, Gil Macdonald. Her last job was at the Howes House in West Tisbury with the council on aging.

Ginnie enjoyed the many friends she made on the Vineyard and spent her retirement years enjoying her piano, plants and feeding the birds. Mostly she enjoyed being home. Ginnie persisted through many difficult times and always held herself high, facing her difficulties with a smile while looking forward to the future.

She is survived by several children, stepchildren, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A graveside service was held in West Tisbury Cemetery on Wednesday. Donations may be made in her memory to the West Tisbury Council on Aging or Hospice of Martha's Vineyard, P.O. Box 2549, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557. Arrangements are under the care of the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home.