Virginia Hite Memorial Painting
In Memory of a Spirited Soul.
Painted by Don Dahlke, 2021. Oil paint on gessoed linen canvas.
Collection of the City of Sherwood. Donated by Friends of Sherwood Public Library.
This painting hangs in Sherwood Public Library and is a tribute to Virginia (Lee Wilson) Hite, the “Spirited Soul” depicted. Virginia was born on September 20, 1921, and was a strong supporter, donor, and advocate for library services in Sherwood. She was a long-time volunteer, fundraiser, donor of the land the previous Sherwood Public Library was built, and recipient of the Oregon Library Association Volunteer of the Year award in 1998.
Virginia Hite was married to Don Hite, and together, they had two children, Suzie and Randy. She was also part of the founding board of the Robin Hood Festival Association and worked for nearly 30 years at Sherwood Medical Clinic. Virginia Hite passed away at age 95 in 2017, and saw her dream of two beautiful library buildings built.
To learn more about Virginia’s life and the symbolism in the painting, see the I Spy activity sheet, below.
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