Clara Jane Billig, 92, of Blacksburg, died February 28, 2015. Born April 1, 1922 in Mt. Airy, NC to Robert Earle Hines and Victoria Evelyn Wolfe Hines, Clara Jane, also known to friends and family as “C.J.”, was one of six children. She spent her early life in Radford, VA, graduating from the State Teacher’s College in Radford Virginia (later to become Radford University) in 1943. At a time when many teachers were choosing the two year Normal License for teaching, CJ was very proud of her four year Bachelor of Science in Education Degree. After graduation, she taught music appreciation, band, and choir in Augusta County, VA and the following year became Youth Director for the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church in Bristol, VA. She married William James Billig upon his return from the WWII European Theatre in June 1945 and put her professional education career on hold to become a stay-at-home Mom. The family moved to Blacksburg in 1955. When her youngest child was in middle school, she returned to her career in education resulting in a 17-year teaching career with Montgomery County Schools. Following retirement CJ continued educating young people as a substitute teacher at Blacksburg High School until age 85. She was loved and respected by her students, many whose parents and grandparents were also taught by her.
Throughout the 60 years that Clara Jane lived in Blacksburg, she was always connected to the community she loved through her work in education, service, and social life. In addition to the lives she touched through her work in education, she was active as a member of the Blacksburg United Methodist Church. There she was an integral part of the Koinonia Sunday School class, sang in the church choir, and was a participant in the XYZs of the church. At various times in her life she was a dedicated hospital volunteer; a participant with the local retired teachers group; a member of Blacksburg Rotary, the Woman’s Club, and Alpha Delta Kappa National Honorary Sorority for teachers. She also volunteered in the food pantry, the humane society, and the clothing bank. An avid Hokie fan, Clara Jane was a member of the Hokie Club and attended over a dozen Hokie football bowl games well into her 80's. Clara Jane loved her family, her church, and her many Blacksburg friends and that love was generously returned to her.
In her various areas of volunteer service, Clara Jane was often in leadership capacities including the Montgomery County Chapter of the American Red Cross Board of Directors, Radford University Foundation Board of Directors and was recognized for her legacy of service to RU as the recipient of the 1996 Outstanding Service Award. Her life of tireless service to others and her sparkling smile and kind nature were a comfort to casual and life long acquaintances alike. She will be missed but her living example will continue on with all who knew and loved her.
Clara Jane was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 30 years, and five siblings: Robert Earle Hines, Jr., Gilmer Wolfe Hines, William Hugh Hines, Victoria Wolfe Hines Burton and Annie Fred Hines Wright.
She is survived by her children, William James Billig, Jr. and his wife, Linda of Greenville, SC, Linda Gayle Billig Brooks and her husband, Larry of Culpeper, VA, Jon Michael Billig and his wife, Julie of Charlotte, NC; 9 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; her sister-in-law Betty Campasini of Christiansburg, VA; and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews. She was loved and will be missed by all who knew her.
McCoy Funeral Home is coordinating the service celebrating her life to be held on Saturday, March 7th at 2:30 p.m. in the sanctuary at the Blacksburg United Methodist Church at 111 Church Street. The family will receive friends beginning at 1:00 p.m. in the Whisner Building at the church. There will be a private graveside service for family members on Sunday, March 8th, in Mount Airy, NC. In lieu of flowers the family encourages donations be made in her memory to the Koinonia Sunday School Class at BUMC, 111 Church Street, Blacksburg, VA 24060
Throughout the 60 years that Clara Jane lived in Blacksburg, she was always connected to the community she loved through her work in education, service, and social life. In addition to the lives she touched through her work in education, she was active as a member of the Blacksburg United Methodist Church. There she was an integral part of the Koinonia Sunday School class, sang in the church choir, and was a participant in the XYZs of the church. At various times in her life she was a dedicated hospital volunteer; a participant with the local retired teachers group; a member of Blacksburg Rotary, the Woman’s Club, and Alpha Delta Kappa National Honorary Sorority for teachers. She also volunteered in the food pantry, the humane society, and the clothing bank. An avid Hokie fan, Clara Jane was a member of the Hokie Club and attended over a dozen Hokie football bowl games well into her 80's. Clara Jane loved her family, her church, and her many Blacksburg friends and that love was generously returned to her.
In her various areas of volunteer service, Clara Jane was often in leadership capacities including the Montgomery County Chapter of the American Red Cross Board of Directors, Radford University Foundation Board of Directors and was recognized for her legacy of service to RU as the recipient of the 1996 Outstanding Service Award. Her life of tireless service to others and her sparkling smile and kind nature were a comfort to casual and life long acquaintances alike. She will be missed but her living example will continue on with all who knew and loved her.
Clara Jane was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 30 years, and five siblings: Robert Earle Hines, Jr., Gilmer Wolfe Hines, William Hugh Hines, Victoria Wolfe Hines Burton and Annie Fred Hines Wright.
She is survived by her children, William James Billig, Jr. and his wife, Linda of Greenville, SC, Linda Gayle Billig Brooks and her husband, Larry of Culpeper, VA, Jon Michael Billig and his wife, Julie of Charlotte, NC; 9 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; her sister-in-law Betty Campasini of Christiansburg, VA; and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews. She was loved and will be missed by all who knew her.
McCoy Funeral Home is coordinating the service celebrating her life to be held on Saturday, March 7th at 2:30 p.m. in the sanctuary at the Blacksburg United Methodist Church at 111 Church Street. The family will receive friends beginning at 1:00 p.m. in the Whisner Building at the church. There will be a private graveside service for family members on Sunday, March 8th, in Mount Airy, NC. In lieu of flowers the family encourages donations be made in her memory to the Koinonia Sunday School Class at BUMC, 111 Church Street, Blacksburg, VA 24060
Clara Jane Billig, 92, of Blacksburg, died February 28, 2015. Born April 1, 1922 in Mt. Airy, NC to Robert Earle Hines and Victoria Evelyn Wolfe Hines, Clara Jane, also known to friends and family as “C.J.”, was one of six children. She spent her early life in Radford, VA, graduating from the State Teacher’s College in Radford Virginia (later to become Radford University) in 1943. At a time when many teachers were choosing the two year Normal License for teaching, CJ was very proud of her four year Bachelor of Science in Education Degree. After graduation, she taught music appreciation, band, and choir in Augusta County, VA and the following year became Youth Director for the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church in Bristol, VA. She married William James Billig upon his return from the WWII European Theatre in June 1945 and put her professional education career on hold to become a stay-at-home Mom. The family moved to Blacksburg in 1955. When her youngest child was in middle school, she returned to her career in education resulting in a 17-year teaching career with Montgomery County Schools. Following retirement CJ continued educating young people as a substitute teacher at Blacksburg High School until age 85. She was loved and respected by her students, many whose parents and grandparents were also taught by her.
Throughout the 60 years that Clara Jane lived in Blacksburg, she was always connected to the community she loved through her work in education, service, and social life. In addition to the lives she touched through her work in education, she was active as a member of the Blacksburg United Methodist Church. There she was an integral part of the Koinonia Sunday School class, sang in the church choir, and was a participant in the XYZs of the church. At various times in her life she was a dedicated hospital volunteer; a participant with the local retired teachers group; a member of Blacksburg Rotary, the Woman’s Club, and Alpha Delta Kappa National Honorary Sorority for teachers. She also volunteered in the food pantry, the humane society, and the clothing bank. An avid Hokie fan, Clara Jane was a member of the Hokie Club and attended over a dozen Hokie football bowl games well into her 80's. Clara Jane loved her family, her church, and her many Blacksburg friends and that love was generously returned to her.
In her various areas of volunteer service, Clara Jane was often in leadership capacities including the Montgomery County Chapter of the American Red Cross Board of Directors, Radford University Foundation Board of Directors and was recognized for her legacy of service to RU as the recipient of the 1996 Outstanding Service Award. Her life of tireless service to others and her sparkling smile and kind nature were a comfort to casual and life long acquaintances alike. She will be missed but her living example will continue on with all who knew and loved her.
Clara Jane was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 30 years, and five siblings: Robert Earle Hines, Jr., Gilmer Wolfe Hines, William Hugh Hines, Victoria Wolfe Hines Burton and Annie Fred Hines Wright.
She is survived by her children, William James Billig, Jr. and his wife, Linda of Greenville, SC, Linda Gayle Billig Brooks and her husband, Larry of Culpeper, VA, Jon Michael Billig and his wife, Julie of Charlotte, NC; 9 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; her sister-in-law Betty Campasini of Christiansburg, VA; and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews. She was loved and will be missed by all who knew her.
McCoy Funeral Home is coordinating the service celebrating her life to be held on Saturday, March 7th at 2:30 p.m. in the sanctuary at the Blacksburg United Methodist Church at 111 Church Street. The family will receive friends beginning at 1:00 p.m. in the Whisner Building at the church. There will be a private graveside service for family members on Sunday, March 8th, in Mount Airy, NC. In lieu of flowers the family encourages donations be made in her memory to the Koinonia Sunday School Class at BUMC, 111 Church Street, Blacksburg, VA 24060
Throughout the 60 years that Clara Jane lived in Blacksburg, she was always connected to the community she loved through her work in education, service, and social life. In addition to the lives she touched through her work in education, she was active as a member of the Blacksburg United Methodist Church. There she was an integral part of the Koinonia Sunday School class, sang in the church choir, and was a participant in the XYZs of the church. At various times in her life she was a dedicated hospital volunteer; a participant with the local retired teachers group; a member of Blacksburg Rotary, the Woman’s Club, and Alpha Delta Kappa National Honorary Sorority for teachers. She also volunteered in the food pantry, the humane society, and the clothing bank. An avid Hokie fan, Clara Jane was a member of the Hokie Club and attended over a dozen Hokie football bowl games well into her 80's. Clara Jane loved her family, her church, and her many Blacksburg friends and that love was generously returned to her.
In her various areas of volunteer service, Clara Jane was often in leadership capacities including the Montgomery County Chapter of the American Red Cross Board of Directors, Radford University Foundation Board of Directors and was recognized for her legacy of service to RU as the recipient of the 1996 Outstanding Service Award. Her life of tireless service to others and her sparkling smile and kind nature were a comfort to casual and life long acquaintances alike. She will be missed but her living example will continue on with all who knew and loved her.
Clara Jane was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 30 years, and five siblings: Robert Earle Hines, Jr., Gilmer Wolfe Hines, William Hugh Hines, Victoria Wolfe Hines Burton and Annie Fred Hines Wright.
She is survived by her children, William James Billig, Jr. and his wife, Linda of Greenville, SC, Linda Gayle Billig Brooks and her husband, Larry of Culpeper, VA, Jon Michael Billig and his wife, Julie of Charlotte, NC; 9 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; her sister-in-law Betty Campasini of Christiansburg, VA; and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews. She was loved and will be missed by all who knew her.
McCoy Funeral Home is coordinating the service celebrating her life to be held on Saturday, March 7th at 2:30 p.m. in the sanctuary at the Blacksburg United Methodist Church at 111 Church Street. The family will receive friends beginning at 1:00 p.m. in the Whisner Building at the church. There will be a private graveside service for family members on Sunday, March 8th, in Mount Airy, NC. In lieu of flowers the family encourages donations be made in her memory to the Koinonia Sunday School Class at BUMC, 111 Church Street, Blacksburg, VA 24060
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