Born in Los Angeles, California in 1942 to Albert G Nelson and Lillian (Efverlund) Nelson, Virginia Ruth (Nelson) Watts passed away peacefully at her home in Northridge, CA on Monday August 11th 2025 at the age of 83 years old.
Virginia dedicated her career to higher education and public service, beginning at the UCLA Library in the 1960s and 1970s, later serving as department secretary in the CSUN Department of Speech Communication, then transitioning to working with the CSEA union as a labor relations representative and eventually serving as Administrator of the CSEA, until her retirement.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from CSUN and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Antioch University. In more recent years, she became an author and mentor to many others who love to write. A gifted musician and pianist, in her youth Virginia once played piano on the radio and was known for her beautiful singing voice. Those who were lucky enough to hear her rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” on piano will forever associate that song with her playing and joy for music. She loved the music of Henry Mancini, Respighi, Tchaikovsky, and Oscar Peterson.
Virginia found joy in spending time with her family and friends, gardening, birdwatching, and whimsy. Her humor was both sophisticated and playful, often delighting herself (sometimes without sharing the joke) and those around her. She was a devoted friend whose kindness, compassion, and nurturing spirit left a lasting impression on everyone she met. To know her was to feel cared for—whether through a warm meal, a thoughtful gesture, or her simple presence. To be her family was a gift beyond imagination. She was an inspiration to everyone who met her.
She is survived by her devoted husband, Kenneth Watts; her children, Jonathan and Militza Watts, Heather and David Malley; and her beloved grandchildren, Gwendolyn, Hannah, and Sawyer.
Virginia was, above all, love personified, and her passing was simply too soon.
I didn’t know she played piano and sang. Oh how I would love to hear some kind of recording of that. But just knowing that she loved Somewhere Over the Rainbow will make that song more precious to me. I miss her every day as we used to share Wordle puzzles. We missed very few days comparing our successes. And she encouraged me to keep writing. I will dedicate my forthcoming memoir to her. Such a beautiful soul, person, inspiration. Peace and love to you, Virginia.
A beautifully written tribute to a beautiful person! Virginia would have loved it; I do. We're lucky beneficiaries of her gifts, decades of deep sharing and wonderful memories.