Virginia Laurel Kopp

Virginia Laurel (Palmer) Kopp was born on September 10, 1935 in Burlingame, KS to Russel and Cleda (Black) Palmer. She died on August 30, 2026 at the age of 90. Virginia spent much of her childhood and teenage years in Burlingame but also lived in Richmond, CA, Corpus Christi, TX, and Dodge City, KS, as her carpenter father followed work to these areas. Although she lived in places other than Kansas, she was a loyal Kansan and loved all things Kansas including sunflowers and the Jayhawks.

Virginia graduated from Burlingame High School in 1954. She married Richard E. Kopp from Harveyville on April 29, 1954. They would subsequently move to Topeka. Virginia lived in Topeka until 2019 when she made the move to Lawrence, KS to be closer to her daughter. She made a career for herself in Topeka largely in bookkeeping working for Josten’s, The Topeka Club, USD 501, and then for the State of Kansas for the majority of her career. She took many classes over the years at Washburn University to hone her skills.

When not working, Virginia loved to travel, eat out, shop, decorate, and spend time with family. She and her husband Richard took lots of trips over the years around the US and she was always planning her next trip or outing. If not traveling, she had lots of favorite places to have a meal out in both Topeka and Lawrence including McFarlands, Applebees, and First Watch. She was always making friends with the wait staff as she was a frequent flyer at many establishments. She also had lots of coffee shop staff friends as she loved to get a fancy coffee and then people watch while she drank her treat. She had countless stories of people who generously bought her coffee on many of these outings.

Virginia had a keen and tasteful eye and loved to plan a renovation for a house or room and then shop for and carry out a remodel project. She loved to visit open houses or homes on the home tour for inspiration. She loved to shop and put together just the right outfit for herself or her spouse as well.

She spent much time with her daughters and their families. She frequently was watching her grandchildren in Lawrence, visiting them on the weekend, or attending their sporting or school events. She developed an interest in KU basketball after watching her grandkids play and always had a favorite player she would track each year. She also traveled frequently to see her grandchildren in Mercer Island, WA.

Virginia was a lover of animals, especially cats and dogs. She would save her change in a small bucket and when it was full she would take it to either the Helping Hands Society of Topeka or the Cat Association of Topeka and make a donation. She loved and pampered all her pets over the years including Sunshine, Rusty, Nikki, Taffy, and Buddy.

Virginia is survived by her daughters Kim Doucette, Mercer Island, WA, and Kristy (Greg Sharp), Lawrence, KS, as well as grandsons, Kameron, Karson, and Kole Sharp all of Lawrece, KS and Luke and Parker Doucette of Mercer Island, WA.

A private interment will take place at a later date at Mount Hope Cemetery, Topeka, KS. Please make any donations to Helping Hands Humane Society or Topeka Cat Association in Virginia’s name.

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