Virginia “Ginnie” Goff Frohnert passed away May 31, 2025, in Shrewsbury. She was born Estelle Virginia Goff Feb. 25, 1924, in Elgin, Illinois, the youngest daughter of Dean S. Goff and Maria Estanislao Hernandez. She married George P. Frohnert in South Gate, California, Jan. 2, 1946.
Ginnie was preceded in death by her husband George, her parents and her six siblings: Margaret “Lillian” Collins (Winn), Carlos Dean Goff, Beatriz “Geri” Anton (Steve), Consuelo “Connie” Meyer (Paul), Dorotea “Dora” Vance (Arden), and Frederico “Freddie” Goff (Janelle). She is survived by one daughter, Kathryn Cummings (Mark), and two granddaughters, Laurel and Nicole Cummings. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews, as well as her very dear friend, Kathy Maher.
Ginnie spent her formative years in Elgin, Illinois. After completing three years of high school in Chicago, she moved to California to live with her sister Geri. While nearing the end of her final year of high school, Ginnie was asked to interview with an officer from the U.S. Army who had come to the school looking for a student who was bilingual in Spanish and English and able to take shorthand. Ginnie agreed to an interview and was quickly offered a job working as a civil service employee for Army Capt. James Newhall of the Los Angeles Ordinance Depot, which was engaged in work on the Manhattan Project. Ginnie always recalled her years in civil service with pride and great fondness.
Ginnie enjoyed her life as a homemaker and mother. She also enjoyed knitting and playing the piano. She and George enjoyed a full social life and loved to travel in their free time. Ginnie had a sunny disposition that lit up any room. She brought much pleasure and joy to those who were lucky to have known and loved her. Her final years were spent living at the Brandywine at The Sycamore in Shrewsbury, where she enjoyed going to Atlantic City, playing bingo, attending musical programs and movies, and spending time with her Sycamore family. She will be deeply missed by all.
Ginnie was laid to rest next to her husband George at New Calvary Cemetery in Sayreville June 6. There was a viewing that day at Thompson Memorial Home, Red Bank. There will be a Celebration of Life from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, June 18, at the Brandywine at The Sycamore, 5 Meridian Way, Shrewsbury, to honor Ginnie.
The article originally appeared in the June 12 – 18, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
