Obituary for Virginia Buffalohead

Virginia Buffalohead

July 8, 1935 — September 1, 2023

Virginia BlueBack Buffalohead was born on July 7, 1935 to Garry BlueBack and Martha FireShaker Blueback at Pawnee Indian Hospital.

Virginia attended White Eagle School of which she had fond memories and one of those was walking home with friend Suzanne White Eagle with brother Millard Cerre waiting for them. She then went on to Chilocco Indian School. Virginia was a member of the Ponca Indian Nazarene Church, Unit 38 Ladies Auxiliary and was of the Nikaphasna Clan of the Ponca Tribe. Virginia told her children that she learned to speak the Ponca language as a young person because she lived with a Grandma who only spoke Ponca. Even though her memory was fading she could still understand and speak the Ponca language.

Virginia worked for years at 9th street Laundry here in Ponca City and then worked for the Ponca Tribal Senior Citizen Program until she retired. She enjoyed playing bingo, going to church when she could and being with her family

Virginia married her soulmate Don Buffalohead and of this union they had six children: Teresa, Greta, Paula Sue, Gary, Don & Ron. She helped raise a granddaughter Juanita Buffalohead and was proud of her namesake Virginia Ramirez. Her family was her wealth, 13 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren and two great great grandsons Silas and Elliot.

The family would like to thank these women who loved and cared about her: Maxine Thompson, Holly Kemble, Toni Lena, Tina Montanez, Louise Roy, Estelline Warrior, Clairene Arkeketa, LeeAnn Jones and Berneice Willis. Also friends who have gone on before her: Bernadine Roy, Norma Jean Estes, Dee Crain, Suzanne White Eagle, Berneice Wrolstad, and Susan Freeman. Thank you to the whole staff of the Ponca City Nursing Home who provided excellent care and compassion for our mother and the willingness to see that she was well taken care of if we could name all of you we would! Also a thank you to Humanity Hospice. God remembers good deeds.

Virginia wanted her great grandsons to be her pallbearers: Joshua Campbell, Saul Hernandez, Diego Hernandez, Prudencio Hernandez, Lukah Ewing, Liam “Louie” Ewing, Mathias Stone and a great grandson she never met Juan Pablo Rodriguez. Honorary pallbearers: Michael Delano, Dustin Driggers, Dwayne Driggers, Prudencio Mendoza, Noah Blueback, Darrell Lee Blueback, Jay boy Goodman, Richard Driggers. Paul Waldron & Stephen Buffalohead.

Virginia was the last remaining member of her Blueback /FireShaker family. She had one brother Ernie BlueBack, and three sisters Juanita BlueBack, Elizabeth Goodman and Gracie Driggers. Like her mom she didn’t quite understand why she was still here. Our hope is that they were there at heaven’s door waiting for her.

Her husband Don and three children predeceased her: Gary, Greta & Don. To cherish her memory are Ron Buffalohead, Teresa Buffalohead and Paula Sue(Prudencio) Mendoza. She is also survived by numerous nephews and nieces.

Virginia will lay in state at Grace memorial Chapel and viewing will be from 3 to 6 pm on Saturday and services will be held on Sunday Sept. 3rd at Grace Memorial Chapel at 2:00 p.m. Burial to follow at Ponca Indian Cemetery.