Virginia Frost Haydu
April 18, 1937 - October 6, 2015
Billerica, Massachusetts
Virginia Frost Haydu, 78, peacefully passed away in Billerica, Massachusetts on Tuesday October 6, 2015 at her home with her loving daughter Stephanie by her side. Virginia was born April 18, 1937 in Gallup, New Mexico to Fred and Kathryn Frost.
Virginia graduated from Gallup High School in May 1955. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music from New Mexico State University in June 1960 followed by her teaching credentials in New Mexico for Music and English. Virginia was a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society. While attending college she married William Haydu and had one daughter, Stephanie.
Virginia started her teaching career in 1960 when she taught elementary school in El Paso, Texas. In 1963 Virginia moved to Exeter, California to begin her 17 year career as an English, Choir, and Drama teacher at Exeter Union High School. Her student's fondly called her "Ma" and share many memories of her expansive, charismatic personality and fiery red hair. She was given the nickname "Ma" early on in her teaching career at EUHS by her students because she was loving, caring, and compassionate about their lives and success. Virginia was an integral part of developing EUHS's performing arts. She directed countless theatrical and choral performances in her tenure there. Virginia's 1967 white convertible GTO was always visible in the EUHS parking lot. While in Exeter she also taught music at Farmersville Elementary. She had a passion for playing her flute. In addition to her teaching achievements she was an active member of numerous community theatrical groups including Porterville Community Theater at the Barn Theater and the Lions Club Frolics.
Following her teaching career, Virginia began a technical career in Massachusetts at the MITRE Corporation, a federally-funded research center for computer information systems and technology. Her new career spanned 27 years, culminating in her 2007 retirement. Starting as a technical writer, she took the opportunity to learn skills in data communications and worked her way to a technical staff position. Early in her career, she worked with what were the new networking technologies that are the foundation of today's satellite and cable internet services. Over the course of her career, she was involved in many large scale projects for the U.S. Air Force, deploying networks and computer systems across the country. Virginia entered the technical field at a time when very few women were working there, and she was an active member of MITRE's technical women's group. She carried with her a "can-do" spirit and wry sense of humor that helped everyone laugh at the challenges they faced.
Virginia is proceeded in death by her parents Fred and Kathryn Frost of Gallup, New Mexico; She is survived by her sister Elaine Hendricks; former spouse William Haydu of Piedmont, Missouri; daughter and son in law Stephanie and Kevin Kimmel of Piedmont, Missouri; grand children Rachael and Jonathan Van Groningen of Visalia, California and Joseph and LeeAnn Lambert of Lucerne Valley, California; great grandchildren Jacob Van Groningen, Rebecca Van Groningen, Kylee Lambert, Evan Lambert, and Jeremiah Van Groningen.
Virginia will be interned at Sunset Memorial Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Virginia was loved by many and will be missed by all.
Published in Tulare Advance-Register & Visalia Times-Delta on Nov. 14, 2015