Arloa Virginia Mantz

Arloa Virginia Brown Mantz was born on December 15, 1938, in Reno, Nevada to Willis James Brown and Wanda Elaine (Plummer) Brown. Virginia passed away on June 24, 2026, surrounded by loved ones in the home that she and her husband Ralph built. Although her given name was Arloa, she was known throughout her life as Virginia or Ginny. She was best known to her grandchildren as "Nonie."

A proud native Nevadan, Virginia spent her childhood in the historic mining communities of Virginia City, Gold Hill, and Silver City, Nevada.

Virginia was first married to Tiburcio Joseph "Sunny" Cornejo in 1957 in Elko, Nevada. Their marriage brought four children into the family. On November 15, 2003, she married Ralph Mantz in Gardnerville, Nevada. During their 22 years of marriage, Virginia and Ralph blended their families and shared seven children, eighteen grandchildren, twenty-three great-grandchildren, and nine great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Wanda Elaine (Plummer) Brown Norton; her father, Willis James Brown (Sybil); her brother James "Jim" Willis Brown (Lisa); her son, Christopher "Chris" Cornejo (Patricia “Patty”); grandson, Joshua Lucas Grisham, granddaughter, Kandice Michele Cornejo.

Virginia is survived by her devoted husband, Ralph Mantz; her children, Janet "Jan" Rivera, whom she was reunited with later in life, Benardo "Ben" Cornejo (Delyn), Linda (Cornejo) Huntsberger (Richard), Ricardo "Rick" Cornejo, and her stepsons, Ralph "RJ" Mantz (Diane) and David Mantz (Robbi); her brothers, Glenn "Buster" Brown (Dina), Mickey Norton, Daniel "Danny" Brown (Jayme); and her sister, Susan (Brown) Kilburn.

Virginia enjoyed spending time in nature and could often be found in her beautiful garden, collecting rocks, tending flowers, enjoying the hummingbirds and admiring the beauty around her. She especially loved reading, photographing clouds and, over the years, took thousands of photographs of cloud formations during her travels throughout the country. She worked for the Laborers Union #169 for over four decades and was one of the first female highway flaggers in Elko County. She was a realtor and enjoyed helping people live their dreams. She volunteered for numerous non-profits and communities, such as: St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, the Smith Valley Advisory, Library and Park Boards, Beta Sigma Phi, Soroptimist, Elko County School District PTA and Operation Lifesaver.

Family, friends and neighbors remember her as a spitfire, hardworking and energetic. The name Arloa is an uncommon feminine name that generally means "fortified hill" or "symbol of strength and resilience”. This sums Virginia up perfectly and she truly will be missed.

Virginia’s family would like to thank her community of neighbors and friends who came together to help both Virginia and Ralph when they most needed assistance. This is what a special community does and the family is grateful to them.

Celebration of Life will be held at St. John the Baptist Church in Smith Valley on Friday, July 31 at 11:00am and the Rosary on Thursday (07/30) at 6:00pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Smith Valley Library.   Family and friends are invited to sign her online guest book at www.FRFH.net

Arrangements and cremation are under the direction of Freitas Rupracht Funeral Home, 25 Hwy 208 Yerington, Nevada 89447 (775) 463-2911