Virginia Dorsten

On March 18th, 2026, while the Lenton Roses were in full bloom, Mary Virginia Riney Kutscher Dorsten slipped away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones.

Born on November 15th, 1933, to Mary Irmine and Thomas Leander Riney, Virginia grew to relish her role as the youngest of eleven children, a position that prepared her for a lifetime of quick wit and adaptability. She adored her five sisters (Mary Lou Mudd, Sr. Jean Riney, Sr. Ruth Riney, Pat Chesire, and Trudy Mudd) and five brothers (David, Joe, Dick, Fr. Phil, and Jack), and never let a family gathering go by without a gentle reminder of her status as the "baby."

Virginia graduated from the University of Dayton in 1956 with a B.A. in English Literature. After college, she put her sharp mind and keen eye for detail to work as an editor. Her first husband, Theodore Emil Kutscher, was a fellow Flyer. Together, they had six children: Dan Kutscher (Mary), Julie Kutscher, Teresa Ewing (Bob), Elaine Gleason (Todd), Steve Kutscher (Kelly), and Jennifer Kruse (John).

Virginia lived with refreshing authenticity and was blessed with an even-keel disposition, qualities that became her family's anchor amid life's chaos. Tolerance was her superpower, which was essential for raising six wonderfully rambunctious children. She led by example, weaving integrity, honesty, and resiliency into the very fabric of her family’s values.

Virginia’s beauty was unassuming; she cared little for appearances. Rather, she valued the quiet grace of a humble heart. Always rooting for the underdog, she fiercely advocated for the overlooked, including the many times she fought for the most questionable of fuzzy forgotten foods in the fridge, which we attributed to her Depression-era upbringing.

Virginia delighted in a leisurely, meandering shopping trip, usually returning home empty-handed. Her favorite adventures were Thursday morning "garage sale-ing" excursions. She was in her element, as she strategically mapped her route and hunted for treasures. Despite her legendary frugality, Virginia was generous to a fault when it came to charity.

Virginia found meaning in the little things (shells, brochures, cards, and every sentimental scrap), each lovingly preserved and ingeniously organized in repurposed Velveeta Cheese boxes. Her knack for resourcefulness and sentimentality was a breath of fresh air in an overly materialistic world where everything is disposable.

Virginia had a lovely voice, a secret known only to her family. She filled the house with singing and humming as she went about her chores. She could work on a tedious task all day and into the night without taking a break. She personally installed new wall-to-wall carpet, rolling, cutting, and stretching it into place with a determination that put most professionals to shame. Her only assistant at the time, her youngest child, served more as comic relief than as actual help.

Virginia was also a masterful seamstress, able to create just about anything with her trusty Singer sewing machine, which was perfectly positioned by the den window so she could watch her kids play outside. With nimble fingers and endless patience, she stitched together everything from her daughters’ First Communion dresses, baby dolls, to their wedding gowns. Each piece was a labor of love.

Virginia remained a lifelong avid reader and newspaper junkie, eager to stay informed about the world. Her convictions ran deep. Her passion for politics compelled her to voice her opinion. She penned so many letters to politicians, firm, persuasive, and sometimes downright feisty, that her name surely appears on a government watch list.

True to her independent spirit, Virginia encouraged her children to think for themselves and question authority - even if it sometimes came back to bite her, especially when they challenged religion as only young adults can. Despite this, she held tightly to her own faith, drawing great comfort from her relationship with God. Her unwavering belief gave her strength through life’s toughest moments, including the tragic loss of her eldest son, Dan, and husband, Ted.

After Ted's death, Virginia married Charles Dorsten in 1991. Together, they traveled and enjoyed a peaceful home. She cared for and comforted Chuck when he suffered a heart attack and again when he battled and succumbed to lung cancer in 2018.

Virginia was blessed with a large family. She regularly prayed for each and every one of them. She was truly grateful for the care and love they provided to her in her final days. She delighted in her 18 grandchildren (Katie Routson, Patrick Kutscher, Paul Salerno, Sara Salerno, Mathew Puterbaugh, Casey Waddel, Blake Ewing, Wes Ewing, Adam Evans, Jacob Evans, Nathan Evans, Emma Kutscher, Owen Kutscher, Declan Kutscher, Nora Kutscher, Ben Kruse, Jack Kruse, Graham Kruse) and 13 great-grandchildren (and growing). Her legacy lives on.

To honor Virginia, please repurpose some aluminum foil, say a prayer, and write your representative a feisty letter.

Memorial Mass will be held at 1 PM on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at St. Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church in Centerville.