Virginia Van Gorp was born to Carl Robert and Marie M. (Simmons) Blythe, in Mendota, Iowa.  She attended country school and high school in Knoxville, Iowa.

On March 1, 1969, Virginia was united in marriage to Donald J. Van Gorp, in Yukon, Oklahoma.

Virginia was devoted to her husband and career. She assisted Bert Bandstra as his secretary for decades, even supporting him during his tenure in the U.S. Congress. Over the years, Virginia and Don lived in both Knoxville and Pella. Together they took many weekend trips around Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Virginia loved working with ceramics and had her own kiln. Her nieces and nephews were very important to her and she spent a lot of time with them. In her spare time, she also enjoyed gardening and tending to her flowers.

She is survived by her sister Elaine (the late Ken) Houseal and their children: Kevin, Kyle (Talia) and Kim; and her sister-in-law Donna Blythe and her children: Rhonda (David), Athena (Don) and Melissa (Allen).

Virginia was preceded in death by her husband Don, her parents, and her brother Harold Blythe.