Virginia Mertz

Virginia Lee Mertz passed away on Sunday, August 16, 2015 after an extended stay at the Mancos Valley Inn. Mrs. Mertz was 78. The cause of death was related to Alzheimer’s disease.
Virginia Lee Hickman was born to Daniel and Leta (Southerland) Hickman on November 13, 1936 in Platteville, CO. Her parents later divorced and her mother and her stepfather, Harry Wooldridge, raised her. When she was five years old her mother had triplet boys and this event made national news. Additionally, her family was struck by polio epidemic in 1948 and the family was quarantined. All of the children were impacted by polio in someway and Virginia later suffered from post-polio syndrome. In view of her family history with polio she was always a staunch advocate for vaccinations.
She graduated from Hudson High School in Hudson, CO in May 1954. In June 1954 she married Robert Howard Rochford in Hudson, CO and together they had four children: Sheri Rochford Figgs, Becky Rochford Sanchez, Robert (Sonny) Rochford and Chandra Rochford Huber. Her husband passed away on December 8, 1973 and on May 22,1976 she married Donald H. Mertz at the Presbyterian Church in Durango. They met through their work with Wedgewood Realty and later they purchased Western Outfitters in Durango, CO. In 1989 they moved to Quartzsite, AZ where they owned an RV Park and then retired to Yuma, AZ in 2000.
In 2012, they moved back to the area and purchased a home in Bayfield, CO. Mrs. Mertz was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and they wanted to be close to family. In September 2013 Mrs. Mertz went to live in the Valley Inn Nursing Home where she could receive the best possible assistance for her disease. The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and caregivers of the Valley Inn for their special care of Virginia.
She is survived by her husband of almost forty years, Donald Mertz, children Sheri (Dan), Becky (Jimmy), Sonny (Debbie) and Chandra. She is also survived by grandchildren, Micah and Jimi Lynn Sanchez, Whitney (Dustin) Hanscom, Austin Rochford, Lindsey, Georgia and Bridget Huber Lindsey, great grandson, Hunter Hanscom, Brothers, Bud (Darlene) and Harold (Nancy) Wooldridge, half sister, Donna Hickman Stevens, and sister-in-laws Jean (Joe) Mertz Schmitt, Gayle Eichthaler, Judy Wagar, Linda Wooldridge, and brother-in-law Dan Rhodes. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive her.
Her first husband, Robert Rochford, father Daniel Hickman, her mother and stepfather, Leta and Harry Wooldridge, her brothers Howard, Harry and Tommy Wooldridge and son-in-law Roland Huber and sister-in-law Jean Rhodes precedes Mrs. Mertz in death.
Mrs. Mertz was a loving wife; mother, sister, grandmother, aunt and friend, She was one of the first women realtors in the Durango community and she and her husband had a successful retail business, Western Outfitters. It was here that she learned to love the 4-H kids the business would sponsor and supporting the Navajo Trail Fiesta Queen contest with western fashions. When she and her husband had the RV Park in Arizona, Virginia and her husband enjoyed hosting pancake breakfasts and potluck suppers for park residents and getting to know them better. She enjoyed reading the Bible, time with her family, in particular the many family gatherings at Francisco’s Restaurant or the Bar-D, traveling and especially taking cruises with her husband. She will be forever in the hearts of those who loved her.
A celebration of life service will be held on Tuesday, August 25, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. at Hood Mortuary. A reception will be held immediately following the service at 3:00 p.m. at Hood Mortuary. In lieu of flowers the family would welcome donations to the local Alzheimer’s Association, Durango Chapter, 701 Camino del Rio #321, Durango, CO 81301, 970-259-0122.