August 25, 1922 – February 11, 2025
Virginia Mary Whiteley Streets was born in Seattle on August 25, 1922, to William H. Whiteley and Mildred Graef Whiteley. She passed away on February 11, 2025, in Los Angeles, at the age of 102.
She was raised in the Seattle area, attending the four-room grade school known as East Seattle Grade School on Mercer Island. She thereafter attended and graduated from Franklin High School in Seattle. She went on to study Veterinary Medicine at Washington State College in Pullman, now known as Washington State University. She earned her BS, DVM, in 1944.
At the time Virginia began her education in veterinary medicine, women were few and far between in the program. She was one of only three women in her class and the only one to graduate. The predominant thinking at the time was that she was taking a place in the class that should have been given to a male student. It was assumed that she would not complete the program and, even if she did, she would never practice veterinary medicine, choosing instead to marry and raise a family. Virginia did both- practiced for 56 years, married, and raised two children.
After she obtained her DVM degree, she returned to Seattle and began practicing as an associate at the small animal practice known as Seattle Veterinary Hospital. After a time, a newly discharged WWII veteran, James “Ernie” Streets, came to work at the hospital as a kennel man. He was preparing to begin his veterinary education at WSC. They began a relationship that was still going strong when the time came for Ernie to leave for Pullman to attend school. Virginia remained in Seattle, working at the animal hospital. In October 1945, she took the train to Pullman to visit Ernie and attend Homecoming. They eloped and were married on October 6, 1945. While Ernie was attending vet school, Virginia was employed by WSC, teaching small animal surgery and clinics to Junior and Senior Veterinary students.
After Ernie obtained his DVM, Virginia and Ernie moved to Lynden, and in June 1950, they established Streets Veterinary Hospital. They worked together for 21 years until Ernie became disabled. The practice was then sold to Dr. Vern Pedersen, who changed the name to Kulshan and, along with Dr. Dave Hardman, built a large group practice which is still in operation. Ernie passed away in 1973. Virginia stayed with Kulshan for another 29 years. She retired at the end of 2000 at the age of 78, ending a career of 56 years. She truly loved practicing veterinary medicine. She was an excellent mentor and shared her knowledge willingly. In 1985, she was given the national award, “Outstanding Woman Veterinarian.
At her retirement party, she was surprised by the attendance of a veterinarian who was her friend and classmate while at WSC. Dr. J.R. “Dick” Dodge was born and raised in the Olympia/Lacey area and had practiced there until his retirement. They started a relationship shortly thereafter. After a couple of years commuting back and forth between Lynden and Olympia it was decided that Virginia would move to Olympia, as Dick had children and grandchildren residing in the area, while Virginia’s children and grandchildren were living in other states. Moving from Lynden was not an easy choice for her as she had been in Lynden for more than 50 years and loved the town and its people. She had many long-time friends and was loved by many. She was a member of a bridge club in Lynden for decades that consisted of eight very close friends. They named the club “TAEOU,” which stood for There Are Eight Of Us. She was also an active member of the United Methodist Church in Lynden, singing in the choir and playing the organ.
The move was difficult, but there followed fifteen years of happiness in a Domestic Partnership until Dick’s passing in 2016. After his passing, she moved to Los Angeles to live with her daughter Jill and family.
Virginia loved music, and playing the piano and organ gave her so much joy throughout her life. She played piano for a USO group in Seattle during World War II, followed by decades of playing the piano and organ in church, at weddings, and other events. Her beloved grand piano made the trip to Los Angeles with her.
Virginia also loved baseball. She was an avid fan of Seattle baseball, from attending the Indians games in the 30s with her Dad and little brother, and continuing up to being an avid fan of the Mariners. She reluctantly became a fan of the Dodgers after arriving in Los Angeles. She didn’t just watch the games, she was scoring them and could recite exactly what had happened every inning right up through the Dodgers’ World Series win in 2024, during which she was 102 years old.
She also loved traveling the world. She enjoyed many interesting trips to 39 countries.
She was a life member of Washington State Vet. Med. Association, as well as Alpha Gamma Delta sorority. She was also a member of the WSU Alumni Association.
Virginia was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, James “Ernie” Streets, DVM, her daughter, Cathy Streets DenAdel, and her Domestic Partner, J. R. “Dick” Dodge, DVM. She is survived by her daughter, Jill Streets, (Carlo Torres) and grandson Dylan Streets, of Los Angeles and grandsons Dan Butts of Florida and Ken Butts of Alaska. Her brother, and only sibling, William Whiteley, passed away 13 days after her passing. His three children and their families survive her in Poulsbo.
A gathering to celebrate and honor Virginia and her life will take place on July 14, 2025, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the home of Kay and Steve Price at 1105 Front Street in Lynden.
Memorials are suggested to the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine’s Margin of Excellence Fund.