VIRGINIA LEE GLEASON
Children’s Librarian
July 7, 2017
Virginia Gleason’s life reads like one of the Great Books of American history now lovingly stored on a family bookshelf. The daughter of Nathan Lee Casey, an ordained Methodist minister, and Lulu Madge (Randolph) Casey, a schoolteacher who took on the mantle of pastor’s wife at the age of 30, Virginia loved her home state of West Virginia but felt the calling of a larger world.
Born on September 7, 1923, at Buckhannon, WV, while her father was attending West Virginia Wesleyan College, Virginia recalled a day during her childhood when she overheard neighbor women nervously discussing bank failures over the backyard fence as they hung clothes up to dry. Fortunately for her family, Virginia’s father’s ministerial work continued uninterrupted during the 1929 Great Depression except by regular reassignments, and the family’s large vegetable garden provided all the corn on the cob that they could eat. Yet, like many who grew up in the Depression era Virginia learned never to throw away anything that might be useful someday!
Unusual for her time, both of Virginia’s parents were college graduates. Virginia’s parents encouraged all of their children to pursue higher education. Valedictorian of her Pine Grove, WV, high school class in 1941, Virginia went on to repeat that accomplishment in 1945 at the much larger West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, WV, where she had been born on September 7, 1923, while her father was a student there before her.
World War II intervened in Virginia’s family’s life during her college years when her younger brother Ernest was drafted into the U.S. Army after his own freshman year in college and later her brother Joseph signed up for the U.S. Navy. After building bridges and clearing roads across France, Belgium and Germany, Ernest’s Army Corps of Engineers battalion became a fighting unit during the Battle of the Bulge, and he returned to the U.S. at the end of the war a life-long PTSD sufferer (before the term came into popular use) to the unceasing concern of his family. Meanwhile, as a post-WWII female college graduate Virginia felt her career choices were limited to being a teacher in remote West Virginia villages, a nurse to seriously injured soldiers, or a librarian whose life would revolve around literature and service to others who shared her great love of books, so Virginia chose to pursue higher education in library science and enrolled as a scholarship student at Columbia University’s School of Library Science from which she graduated with honors in October 1946. Virginia’s mother had attended a summer program at Columbia’s Teachers College in 1917, and Virginia had been inspired by her mother’s stories of New York City, so she again followed a parent into a school of higher education.
The search for a professional library position took Virginia to Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, where she was also able to pursue a master’s degree in English, graduating in 1949. Although she had been promised a job in the new college library at her West Virginia alma mater, as Virginia was later quoted in the Columbia Magazine, “What young woman would want to return to a small coal mining town after she had a taste of New York City?” It was also at a Northwestern graduate student social function that Virginia met the love of her life, George Donald Gleason, who was pursuing a master’s degree in English himself. George and Virginia’s marriage ceremony in December 1949, was performed by Virginia’s father, who had by then long been known then as the Reverend Nathan Lee Casey, in Lumberport, WV.
George Gleason had served in the Pacific in the US Navy during World War II, and as a reservist he was called back up by the US Navy at the start of the Korean War, an assignment that took the couple to San Diego, CA, where their first child, Barbara, was born at the Navy hospital. The commencement of his post-war PhD studies at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA, led to another relocation, where their daughter Anne was born. Meanwhile, Virginia worked as a children’s librarian at the San Diego Public Library and as a reference librarian at the University of Iowa.
Finally, Virginia and George settled in Springfield, MO, in 1955, where George pursued his career as an English professor and department chairman at Southwest Missouri State (now Missouri State University), and where two more children, Vicki and Randy, joined the busy family. Here, while raising four rambunctious children, Virginia pursued her career as head of the children’s department at the Springfield Central Public Library and later as Supervisor of Children’s Services for the Springfield-Greene County Public Library. She became well known to the countless children of Springfield and nearby communities who attended Saturday story hours over the years or who were searching for books to read in the library’s basement children’s department, and many remembered her fondly well into their adult years. One of these children, Sara Susan Blankenship, married Virginia’s son Randy after they met as students at Missouri State University’s Greenwood Laboratory School and after both graduated from the University as young adults. Virginia also advocated strongly over many years for public school libraries, made countless book presentations to public school children’s classes, was the Missouri Library Association Chair during 1970-1971, and authored a weekly syndicated Penny-Whistle Press book review column for many years.
As Virginia approached her late 60’s and the card catalogue gave way to library computerization, she could have followed her contemporaries into well-deserved retirement. Instead, Virginia purchased a home computer, taught herself to use it, and learned the new systems installed to manage the library’s book inventory and patron check-outs. Virginia finally retired from her long library career when she was 74 years old, but only due to the declining health of her husband. Never intimidated by technological change, Virginia swapped her flip phone for an iPhone at the age of 91, spent a summer learning how to use the new technology, and launched into text messaging throughout the remainder of her life to communicate with her children, grandchildren, and younger friends. Similarly, Virginia came to enjoy communications with friends via her Facebook page, and her featured skills on LinkedIn include storytelling, public speaking, and book reviews.
A faithful member of the St. Paul United Methodist Church in Springfield, now the Downtown Wesley Church, Virginia worked hard to establish a church library there that provided a Christian literature source for members for decades. She authored the History of St. Paul United Methodist Church in 1983, was a respected volunteer in church management, and sang in the choir.
Virginia’s refusal to accede to the professional limitations imposed upon women of her era was an inspiration to her children, all of whom graduated from college and established their own successful careers. As her children established their own lives, George and Virginia began to further explore the world by traveling to Alaska, Australia, Cameroon, China, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Tahiti, Tibet, and across the USA to visit their widely disbursed family members. Their legendary travelogues incorporating Virginia’s many colorful and exotic photographs were popular with local organizations. And in retirement, Virginia enjoyed her many friendships at church, her art club, her book club, and the Springfield Senior Center.
Virginia’s fearlessness in the face of change, her vast social network even as an elderly widow, and her desire to bring the joy of reading to children everywhere will long be remembered by family, friends and colleagues. Virginia is survived by her children Barbara Jo Gleason, Anne M. Gleason-Roche (Joe), Victoria Lu Gleason, and George Randolph Gleason (Sara); by her grandchildren Ryan Joseph Roche (Sylvia), David Randolph Gleason (Shea), Susan Marie Gleason, Casey Victoria Roche, and Dylan Randolph Roche; and by her sister-in-law Martha Casey. Virginia’s first great grandchild, Wyatt, is expected by Ryan and Sylvia Roche in August. The family extends special thanks to Eva Chism and Marilyn Bosma for their loving care in Virginia’s last years. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the George and Virginia Gleason Scholarship Fund at Missouri State University or to The Downtown Church, both of Springfield, Missouri.
Children’s Librarian
July 7, 2017
Virginia Gleason’s life reads like one of the Great Books of American history now lovingly stored on a family bookshelf. The daughter of Nathan Lee Casey, an ordained Methodist minister, and Lulu Madge (Randolph) Casey, a schoolteacher who took on the mantle of pastor’s wife at the age of 30, Virginia loved her home state of West Virginia but felt the calling of a larger world.
Born on September 7, 1923, at Buckhannon, WV, while her father was attending West Virginia Wesleyan College, Virginia recalled a day during her childhood when she overheard neighbor women nervously discussing bank failures over the backyard fence as they hung clothes up to dry. Fortunately for her family, Virginia’s father’s ministerial work continued uninterrupted during the 1929 Great Depression except by regular reassignments, and the family’s large vegetable garden provided all the corn on the cob that they could eat. Yet, like many who grew up in the Depression era Virginia learned never to throw away anything that might be useful someday!
Unusual for her time, both of Virginia’s parents were college graduates. Virginia’s parents encouraged all of their children to pursue higher education. Valedictorian of her Pine Grove, WV, high school class in 1941, Virginia went on to repeat that accomplishment in 1945 at the much larger West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, WV, where she had been born on September 7, 1923, while her father was a student there before her.
World War II intervened in Virginia’s family’s life during her college years when her younger brother Ernest was drafted into the U.S. Army after his own freshman year in college and later her brother Joseph signed up for the U.S. Navy. After building bridges and clearing roads across France, Belgium and Germany, Ernest’s Army Corps of Engineers battalion became a fighting unit during the Battle of the Bulge, and he returned to the U.S. at the end of the war a life-long PTSD sufferer (before the term came into popular use) to the unceasing concern of his family. Meanwhile, as a post-WWII female college graduate Virginia felt her career choices were limited to being a teacher in remote West Virginia villages, a nurse to seriously injured soldiers, or a librarian whose life would revolve around literature and service to others who shared her great love of books, so Virginia chose to pursue higher education in library science and enrolled as a scholarship student at Columbia University’s School of Library Science from which she graduated with honors in October 1946. Virginia’s mother had attended a summer program at Columbia’s Teachers College in 1917, and Virginia had been inspired by her mother’s stories of New York City, so she again followed a parent into a school of higher education.
The search for a professional library position took Virginia to Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, where she was also able to pursue a master’s degree in English, graduating in 1949. Although she had been promised a job in the new college library at her West Virginia alma mater, as Virginia was later quoted in the Columbia Magazine, “What young woman would want to return to a small coal mining town after she had a taste of New York City?” It was also at a Northwestern graduate student social function that Virginia met the love of her life, George Donald Gleason, who was pursuing a master’s degree in English himself. George and Virginia’s marriage ceremony in December 1949, was performed by Virginia’s father, who had by then long been known then as the Reverend Nathan Lee Casey, in Lumberport, WV.
George Gleason had served in the Pacific in the US Navy during World War II, and as a reservist he was called back up by the US Navy at the start of the Korean War, an assignment that took the couple to San Diego, CA, where their first child, Barbara, was born at the Navy hospital. The commencement of his post-war PhD studies at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA, led to another relocation, where their daughter Anne was born. Meanwhile, Virginia worked as a children’s librarian at the San Diego Public Library and as a reference librarian at the University of Iowa.
Finally, Virginia and George settled in Springfield, MO, in 1955, where George pursued his career as an English professor and department chairman at Southwest Missouri State (now Missouri State University), and where two more children, Vicki and Randy, joined the busy family. Here, while raising four rambunctious children, Virginia pursued her career as head of the children’s department at the Springfield Central Public Library and later as Supervisor of Children’s Services for the Springfield-Greene County Public Library. She became well known to the countless children of Springfield and nearby communities who attended Saturday story hours over the years or who were searching for books to read in the library’s basement children’s department, and many remembered her fondly well into their adult years. One of these children, Sara Susan Blankenship, married Virginia’s son Randy after they met as students at Missouri State University’s Greenwood Laboratory School and after both graduated from the University as young adults. Virginia also advocated strongly over many years for public school libraries, made countless book presentations to public school children’s classes, was the Missouri Library Association Chair during 1970-1971, and authored a weekly syndicated Penny-Whistle Press book review column for many years.
As Virginia approached her late 60’s and the card catalogue gave way to library computerization, she could have followed her contemporaries into well-deserved retirement. Instead, Virginia purchased a home computer, taught herself to use it, and learned the new systems installed to manage the library’s book inventory and patron check-outs. Virginia finally retired from her long library career when she was 74 years old, but only due to the declining health of her husband. Never intimidated by technological change, Virginia swapped her flip phone for an iPhone at the age of 91, spent a summer learning how to use the new technology, and launched into text messaging throughout the remainder of her life to communicate with her children, grandchildren, and younger friends. Similarly, Virginia came to enjoy communications with friends via her Facebook page, and her featured skills on LinkedIn include storytelling, public speaking, and book reviews.
A faithful member of the St. Paul United Methodist Church in Springfield, now the Downtown Wesley Church, Virginia worked hard to establish a church library there that provided a Christian literature source for members for decades. She authored the History of St. Paul United Methodist Church in 1983, was a respected volunteer in church management, and sang in the choir.
Virginia’s refusal to accede to the professional limitations imposed upon women of her era was an inspiration to her children, all of whom graduated from college and established their own successful careers. As her children established their own lives, George and Virginia began to further explore the world by traveling to Alaska, Australia, Cameroon, China, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Tahiti, Tibet, and across the USA to visit their widely disbursed family members. Their legendary travelogues incorporating Virginia’s many colorful and exotic photographs were popular with local organizations. And in retirement, Virginia enjoyed her many friendships at church, her art club, her book club, and the Springfield Senior Center.
Virginia’s fearlessness in the face of change, her vast social network even as an elderly widow, and her desire to bring the joy of reading to children everywhere will long be remembered by family, friends and colleagues. Virginia is survived by her children Barbara Jo Gleason, Anne M. Gleason-Roche (Joe), Victoria Lu Gleason, and George Randolph Gleason (Sara); by her grandchildren Ryan Joseph Roche (Sylvia), David Randolph Gleason (Shea), Susan Marie Gleason, Casey Victoria Roche, and Dylan Randolph Roche; and by her sister-in-law Martha Casey. Virginia’s first great grandchild, Wyatt, is expected by Ryan and Sylvia Roche in August. The family extends special thanks to Eva Chism and Marilyn Bosma for their loving care in Virginia’s last years. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the George and Virginia Gleason Scholarship Fund at Missouri State University or to The Downtown Church, both of Springfield, Missouri.
VIRGINIA LEE GLEASON
Children’s Librarian
July 7, 2017
Virginia Gleason’s life reads like one of the Great Books of American history now lovingly stored on a family bookshelf. The daughter of Nathan Lee Casey, an ordained Methodist minister, and Lulu Madge (Randolph) Casey, a schoolteacher who took on the mantle of pastor’s wife at the age of 30, Virginia loved her home state of West Virginia but felt the calling of a larger world.
Born on September 7, 1923, at Buckhannon, WV, while her father was attending West Virginia Wesleyan College, Virginia recalled a day during her childhood when she overheard neighbor women nervously discussing bank failures over the backyard fence as they hung clothes up to dry. Fortunately for her family, Virginia’s father’s ministerial work continued uninterrupted during the 1929 Great Depression except by regular reassignments, and the family’s large vegetable garden provided all the corn on the cob that they could eat. Yet, like many who grew up in the Depression era Virginia learned never to throw away anything that might be useful someday!
Unusual for her time, both of Virginia’s parents were college graduates. Virginia’s parents encouraged all of their children to pursue higher education. Valedictorian of her Pine Grove, WV, high school class in 1941, Virginia went on to repeat that accomplishment in 1945 at the much larger West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, WV, where she had been born on September 7, 1923, while her father was a student there before her.
World War II intervened in Virginia’s family’s life during her college years when her younger brother Ernest was drafted into the U.S. Army after his own freshman year in college and later her brother Joseph signed up for the U.S. Navy. After building bridges and clearing roads across France, Belgium and Germany, Ernest’s Army Corps of Engineers battalion became a fighting unit during the Battle of the Bulge, and he returned to the U.S. at the end of the war a life-long PTSD sufferer (before the term came into popular use) to the unceasing concern of his family. Meanwhile, as a post-WWII female college graduate Virginia felt her career choices were limited to being a teacher in remote West Virginia villages, a nurse to seriously injured soldiers, or a librarian whose life would revolve around literature and service to others who shared her great love of books, so Virginia chose to pursue higher education in library science and enrolled as a scholarship student at Columbia University’s School of Library Science from which she graduated with honors in October 1946. Virginia’s mother had attended a summer program at Columbia’s Teachers College in 1917, and Virginia had been inspired by her mother’s stories of New York City, so she again followed a parent into a school of higher education.
The search for a professional library position took Virginia to Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, where she was also able to pursue a master’s degree in English, graduating in 1949. Although she had been promised a job in the new college library at her West Virginia alma mater, as Virginia was later quoted in the Columbia Magazine, “What young woman would want to return to a small coal mining town after she had a taste of New York City?” It was also at a Northwestern graduate student social function that Virginia met the love of her life, George Donald Gleason, who was pursuing a master’s degree in English himself. George and Virginia’s marriage ceremony in December 1949, was performed by Virginia’s father, who had by then long been known then as the Reverend Nathan Lee Casey, in Lumberport, WV.
George Gleason had served in the Pacific in the US Navy during World War II, and as a reservist he was called back up by the US Navy at the start of the Korean War, an assignment that took the couple to San Diego, CA, where their first child, Barbara, was born at the Navy hospital. The commencement of his post-war PhD studies at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA, led to another relocation, where their daughter Anne was born. Meanwhile, Virginia worked as a children’s librarian at the San Diego Public Library and as a reference librarian at the University of Iowa.
Finally, Virginia and George settled in Springfield, MO, in 1955, where George pursued his career as an English professor and department chairman at Southwest Missouri State (now Missouri State University), and where two more children, Vicki and Randy, joined the busy family. Here, while raising four rambunctious children, Virginia pursued her career as head of the children’s department at the Springfield Central Public Library and later as Supervisor of Children’s Services for the Springfield-Greene County Public Library. She became well known to the countless children of Springfield and nearby communities who attended Saturday story hours over the years or who were searching for books to read in the library’s basement children’s department, and many remembered her fondly well into their adult years. One of these children, Sara Susan Blankenship, married Virginia’s son Randy after they met as students at Missouri State University’s Greenwood Laboratory School and after both graduated from the University as young adults. Virginia also advocated strongly over many years for public school libraries, made countless book presentations to public school children’s classes, was the Missouri Library Association Chair during 1970-1971, and authored a weekly syndicated Penny-Whistle Press book review column for many years.
As Virginia approached her late 60’s and the card catalogue gave way to library computerization, she could have followed her contemporaries into well-deserved retirement. Instead, Virginia purchased a home computer, taught herself to use it, and learned the new systems installed to manage the library’s book inventory and patron check-outs. Virginia finally retired from her long library career when she was 74 years old, but only due to the declining health of her husband. Never intimidated by technological change, Virginia swapped her flip phone for an iPhone at the age of 91, spent a summer learning how to use the new technology, and launched into text messaging throughout the remainder of her life to communicate with her children, grandchildren, and younger friends. Similarly, Virginia came to enjoy communications with friends via her Facebook page, and her featured skills on LinkedIn include storytelling, public speaking, and book reviews.
A faithful member of the St. Paul United Methodist Church in Springfield, now the Downtown Wesley Church, Virginia worked hard to establish a church library there that provided a Christian literature source for members for decades. She authored the History of St. Paul United Methodist Church in 1983, was a respected volunteer in church management, and sang in the choir.
Virginia’s refusal to accede to the professional limitations imposed upon women of her era was an inspiration to her children, all of whom graduated from college and established their own successful careers. As her children established their own lives, George and Virginia began to further explore the world by traveling to Alaska, Australia, Cameroon, China, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Tahiti, Tibet, and across the USA to visit their widely disbursed family members. Their legendary travelogues incorporating Virginia’s many colorful and exotic photographs were popular with local organizations. And in retirement, Virginia enjoyed her many friendships at church, her art club, her book club, and the Springfield Senior Center.
Virginia’s fearlessness in the face of change, her vast social network even as an elderly widow, and her desire to bring the joy of reading to children everywhere will long be remembered by family, friends and colleagues. Virginia is survived by her children Barbara Jo Gleason, Anne M. Gleason-Roche (Joe), Victoria Lu Gleason, and George Randolph Gleason (Sara); by her grandchildren Ryan Joseph Roche (Sylvia), David Randolph Gleason (Shea), Susan Marie Gleason, Casey Victoria Roche, and Dylan Randolph Roche; and by her sister-in-law Martha Casey. Virginia’s first great grandchild, Wyatt, is expected by Ryan and Sylvia Roche in August. The family extends special thanks to Eva Chism and Marilyn Bosma for their loving care in Virginia’s last years. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the George and Virginia Gleason Scholarship Fund at Missouri State University or to The Downtown Church, both of Springfield, Missouri.
Children’s Librarian
July 7, 2017
Virginia Gleason’s life reads like one of the Great Books of American history now lovingly stored on a family bookshelf. The daughter of Nathan Lee Casey, an ordained Methodist minister, and Lulu Madge (Randolph) Casey, a schoolteacher who took on the mantle of pastor’s wife at the age of 30, Virginia loved her home state of West Virginia but felt the calling of a larger world.
Born on September 7, 1923, at Buckhannon, WV, while her father was attending West Virginia Wesleyan College, Virginia recalled a day during her childhood when she overheard neighbor women nervously discussing bank failures over the backyard fence as they hung clothes up to dry. Fortunately for her family, Virginia’s father’s ministerial work continued uninterrupted during the 1929 Great Depression except by regular reassignments, and the family’s large vegetable garden provided all the corn on the cob that they could eat. Yet, like many who grew up in the Depression era Virginia learned never to throw away anything that might be useful someday!
Unusual for her time, both of Virginia’s parents were college graduates. Virginia’s parents encouraged all of their children to pursue higher education. Valedictorian of her Pine Grove, WV, high school class in 1941, Virginia went on to repeat that accomplishment in 1945 at the much larger West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, WV, where she had been born on September 7, 1923, while her father was a student there before her.
World War II intervened in Virginia’s family’s life during her college years when her younger brother Ernest was drafted into the U.S. Army after his own freshman year in college and later her brother Joseph signed up for the U.S. Navy. After building bridges and clearing roads across France, Belgium and Germany, Ernest’s Army Corps of Engineers battalion became a fighting unit during the Battle of the Bulge, and he returned to the U.S. at the end of the war a life-long PTSD sufferer (before the term came into popular use) to the unceasing concern of his family. Meanwhile, as a post-WWII female college graduate Virginia felt her career choices were limited to being a teacher in remote West Virginia villages, a nurse to seriously injured soldiers, or a librarian whose life would revolve around literature and service to others who shared her great love of books, so Virginia chose to pursue higher education in library science and enrolled as a scholarship student at Columbia University’s School of Library Science from which she graduated with honors in October 1946. Virginia’s mother had attended a summer program at Columbia’s Teachers College in 1917, and Virginia had been inspired by her mother’s stories of New York City, so she again followed a parent into a school of higher education.
The search for a professional library position took Virginia to Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, where she was also able to pursue a master’s degree in English, graduating in 1949. Although she had been promised a job in the new college library at her West Virginia alma mater, as Virginia was later quoted in the Columbia Magazine, “What young woman would want to return to a small coal mining town after she had a taste of New York City?” It was also at a Northwestern graduate student social function that Virginia met the love of her life, George Donald Gleason, who was pursuing a master’s degree in English himself. George and Virginia’s marriage ceremony in December 1949, was performed by Virginia’s father, who had by then long been known then as the Reverend Nathan Lee Casey, in Lumberport, WV.
George Gleason had served in the Pacific in the US Navy during World War II, and as a reservist he was called back up by the US Navy at the start of the Korean War, an assignment that took the couple to San Diego, CA, where their first child, Barbara, was born at the Navy hospital. The commencement of his post-war PhD studies at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA, led to another relocation, where their daughter Anne was born. Meanwhile, Virginia worked as a children’s librarian at the San Diego Public Library and as a reference librarian at the University of Iowa.
Finally, Virginia and George settled in Springfield, MO, in 1955, where George pursued his career as an English professor and department chairman at Southwest Missouri State (now Missouri State University), and where two more children, Vicki and Randy, joined the busy family. Here, while raising four rambunctious children, Virginia pursued her career as head of the children’s department at the Springfield Central Public Library and later as Supervisor of Children’s Services for the Springfield-Greene County Public Library. She became well known to the countless children of Springfield and nearby communities who attended Saturday story hours over the years or who were searching for books to read in the library’s basement children’s department, and many remembered her fondly well into their adult years. One of these children, Sara Susan Blankenship, married Virginia’s son Randy after they met as students at Missouri State University’s Greenwood Laboratory School and after both graduated from the University as young adults. Virginia also advocated strongly over many years for public school libraries, made countless book presentations to public school children’s classes, was the Missouri Library Association Chair during 1970-1971, and authored a weekly syndicated Penny-Whistle Press book review column for many years.
As Virginia approached her late 60’s and the card catalogue gave way to library computerization, she could have followed her contemporaries into well-deserved retirement. Instead, Virginia purchased a home computer, taught herself to use it, and learned the new systems installed to manage the library’s book inventory and patron check-outs. Virginia finally retired from her long library career when she was 74 years old, but only due to the declining health of her husband. Never intimidated by technological change, Virginia swapped her flip phone for an iPhone at the age of 91, spent a summer learning how to use the new technology, and launched into text messaging throughout the remainder of her life to communicate with her children, grandchildren, and younger friends. Similarly, Virginia came to enjoy communications with friends via her Facebook page, and her featured skills on LinkedIn include storytelling, public speaking, and book reviews.
A faithful member of the St. Paul United Methodist Church in Springfield, now the Downtown Wesley Church, Virginia worked hard to establish a church library there that provided a Christian literature source for members for decades. She authored the History of St. Paul United Methodist Church in 1983, was a respected volunteer in church management, and sang in the choir.
Virginia’s refusal to accede to the professional limitations imposed upon women of her era was an inspiration to her children, all of whom graduated from college and established their own successful careers. As her children established their own lives, George and Virginia began to further explore the world by traveling to Alaska, Australia, Cameroon, China, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Tahiti, Tibet, and across the USA to visit their widely disbursed family members. Their legendary travelogues incorporating Virginia’s many colorful and exotic photographs were popular with local organizations. And in retirement, Virginia enjoyed her many friendships at church, her art club, her book club, and the Springfield Senior Center.
Virginia’s fearlessness in the face of change, her vast social network even as an elderly widow, and her desire to bring the joy of reading to children everywhere will long be remembered by family, friends and colleagues. Virginia is survived by her children Barbara Jo Gleason, Anne M. Gleason-Roche (Joe), Victoria Lu Gleason, and George Randolph Gleason (Sara); by her grandchildren Ryan Joseph Roche (Sylvia), David Randolph Gleason (Shea), Susan Marie Gleason, Casey Victoria Roche, and Dylan Randolph Roche; and by her sister-in-law Martha Casey. Virginia’s first great grandchild, Wyatt, is expected by Ryan and Sylvia Roche in August. The family extends special thanks to Eva Chism and Marilyn Bosma for their loving care in Virginia’s last years. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the George and Virginia Gleason Scholarship Fund at Missouri State University or to The Downtown Church, both of Springfield, Missouri.
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