Virginia Wheat Birdwell, 88, of Cottonwood, passed away on October 3, 2011 in Palmdale, California. She was born August 10, 1923 in Velma Oklahoma to Roy Wheat of Indian Territory and Della Hines of Indian Territory, the fourth of six children. She moved to Farmington, New Mexico from Leveland, Texas with her parents and five siblings when she was 12 years old. Virginia married Raymond A. Birdwell in 1944, and is survived by two siblings, Viva McFarland and Jack Wheat both of Farmington, New Mexico, six children: Nancy Elaine of Apache Creek, New Mexico, Aubrie Allen of Inyokern, California, Larry Gene of Ellensburg, Washington, Douglas Sherman of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Ira Lee of Congress, Arizona and Arlena of Ridgecrest, California. She had 25 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren and 5 great great grandchildren with one more on the way. She was preceded in death by her husband Raymond, brother Raymond and sisters Margarit and Bennie Jo. She lived a long and wonderful life. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 8 in the Westcott Funeral Home at 11 AM. Burial will follow in the Cottonwood Cemtery. A gathering will then follow in the reception romm of Westcott Funeral Home. An online guestbook is available at www.westcottfuneralhome.com