The world lost a bright, warm and beautiful soul Wednesday, Oct. 12, when Gina Grant Bull passed away unexpectedly at the age of 57. She was at her home in Walla Walla, Wash., with her husband, Ron Bull, when she suffered a massive cerebral hemorrhage. She was vibrant and healthy and suffered no pain at the time of her passing.
Gina was born July 17,1959, to Bill and Nancy Grant at St. Mary’s Hospital in Walla Walla. She attended Green Park Elementary and Pioneer Junior High and graduated from Walla Walla High School in 1978.
Throughout her childhood, she reveled in spending time with her three siblings and numerous cousins. She was proud of the multi-generational family farm where her father, Bill Grant, worked alongside other family members. In high school, she was a record-breaking track star, a flag-swinger, and was involved in student government.
In her adolescence and throughout her life, she spent many summers working with her family during wheat harvest. Gina attended Washington State University in Pullman where she met her husband, Ron Bull of Oak Harbor, Wash. On July 7, 1979, Gina and Ron married at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Walla Walla.
Ron and Gina spent the early years of their marriage working at Stone’s Apple Farm in East Moline, Ill., owned by Ron’s grandparents Lester and Dorothy Stone. There, Gina was a tireless worker who spearheaded school tours of the farm and demonstrated a natural gift of connection to children. She and Ron welcomed three children of their own into the world: Lindsay Nicole (1981), Molly Kathryn (1982) and Grant Lyle (1984). They later relocated and settled in Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island in 1991.
Gina’s gift for nurturing children and her passion for helping others fueled a multi-faceted career in education and state government. While her own children were young, she taught preschool, then worked in the Oak Harbor School District in various roles. She mentored youth of all ages and ran the middle school associated student body program. Some of her proudest moments occurred while coaching the track and field team at Oak Harbor High School. She was active in the Oak Harbor Lutheran Church and starred in several plays at the Whidbey Playhouse and Anacortes Community Theater.
Her lifelong desire to help others eventually led to a career with the Washington State Legislature, first as a caseworker, then as a legislative aide. She cherished the time she spent working in Olympia alongside her father, State Representative Bill Grant. Gina and Ron moved back to Walla Walla in 2013 where she became the manager of events and public relations for the Downtown Walla Walla Foundation from 2013-2015. Most recently, she was appointed page director for the House of Representatives. In this role, she was responsible for the coordination and support of dozens of youth who worked in the state capitol during the legislative session. She described it as her “dream job.”
Throughout her life, Gina was a tirelessly devoted wife and mother whose vivacious personality and hearty laugh touched everyone she met. She travelled through Ireland, London and Paris in 2008, fulfilling a lifelong dream. She treasured her friendships, new and old, and had boundless energy. She was a strong leader with an intensely kind heart. She celebrated every holiday with great enthusiasm and was known to frequently “go overboard” with gifts. She was an exceptionally dedicated grandmother and was lovingly known to her three grandchildren as “Momo.”
Gina is survived by her husband Ron, daughter Lindsay Braun (Jeffrey) and grandchildren Stella and Jasper of Walla Walla, Wash.; daughter Molly Schotzko (Tim) and granddaughter Hudson Irene of Pullman, Wash.; and son Grant Bull of Oak Harbor, Wash. Gina is also survived by her mother Nancy Grant of Walla Walla, Wash., and three siblings: Laura Grant (John Wong) of Walla Walla, Wash.; Amy Hartford (Jerry) of Walla Walla, Wash.; and Jonathan Grant (Fahima) of Walla Walla, Wash. She is also survived by a large and loving family of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father Bill Grant; uncles John Grant, Sam Grant, and Lynn Tompkins; aunt Georgene Grant; and cousin Frank Tompkins.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Oak Harbor High School Athletic Booster Club’s Gina Bull Memorial Fund and to Prescott Ivy Cemetery through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder, Walla Walla, WA.
