Virgil Duchow

Not many people can claim to have been born in a cabin, in an apple orchard, during the Depression, delivered by their grandmother who was a self-taught midwife. That’s how life began for Virgil Duchow in Tonasket, WA on Jan. 1, 1933. He passed away on Oct. 20, 2024 at the age of 91.

His family moved to Spokane when he was starting school and he attended Garfield Elementary, then North Central HS where he played football (quarterback), basketball and baseball, was student body president and graduated in Jan. 1951. It’s also where he met his wife, Helen.

Virg attended Washington State College for a year where he joined the TKE fraternity, but he was drafted to fight in the Korean War and a wedding was put together in weeks before he left for basic training. He was on the front lines as an infantryman in Korea when his first child was born.

He returned from war and began working while getting a teaching degree at Eastern, where he also received his Masters degree. He taught for several years at Willard, one year at Finch and spent the remainder of his teaching career at Longfellow. He coached boys sports and was dedicated to making sure all could participate and develop their skills. He was instrumental in helping start the crosscountry program for elementary students in Spokane.

Virgil was also very involved in advocating for teachers and served twice as Spokane Education Association president and served as a board member of the Wash. Educ. Assoc. In recognition of his expertise, he was recruited to teach graduate courses for “Project Teach” at Seattle Pacific Univ.

Virg was smart, decisive, witty, athletic, and liked to read, cook, garden, walk, play pool, drink beer & martinis & good wine, play bridge and spend time with his family. He and Helen were married for 70 years before her passing in 2023. He is survived by 4 children – Denise Hopkins, Debbie (Jerome) Rauen, Darby (Marie) Duchow and Dori (Jack) Miller -- plus 18 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Bessie Duchow, his brother Winston, and his beloved wife, Helen.

A memorial service will be Sat, April 5, 1:00 at Heritage Funeral Home, 508 N. Government Way, Spokane, WA. Donations in his memory can be made to the Boys & Girls Club of Spokane, 544 E. Providence Ave, Spokane, WA 99207, please specify Panda Cares Center of Hope, serving many students from Longfellow Elementary with after-school learning programs. Donations can also be made online at:https://www.bgcspokane.org/donate - in the comment section, please say in memory of Virgil Duchow.