(Editor's Note: Virginia Pearce, 96, died last week. She was the owner of Burien Books, one of Burien's oldest businesses. The Times/News will have more on her next week. Jerry Robinson, a long-time business neighbor, writes his personal memories below.)

The Highline Times had an office next door to Burien Books on Southwest 152nd for over fifty years so the newspaper staff was a friendly neighbor and spent a lot of money there.

Virginia Pearce was a no nonsense businesswoman who we at the newspaper all held in high respect. To operate any small business successfully for that length of time meant she knew what she was doing.

I bought many books from her over the years and it has always been fun for me to browse the small but cozy place. Her selection of titles was limited but if you wanted something she did not have she would get it for you.

After we moved to larger quarters, we still bought books from her. Amazon and Barnes and Noble have had no appeal to me.

I guess her crusty persona appealed to me, so I worked at making her laugh.

And sometimes I had her put my purchase on the cuff. One of our staffers, Bruce McKnight, unfortunately somewhat resembled me and sometimes when he passed her store she would charge out and accost him, demanding he pay up. He pled not guilty but she would not believe him.

Burien readers will miss Virginia. So will I.