Virginia Blanche Wall

Virginia Blanche Wall Virginia Blanche Wall, age 94, a resident of Chillicothe, Missouri, passed away on Sunday, July 17, 2016, at Hedrick Medical Center, Chillicothe, Missouri. Virginia was born the daughter of William Warner and Mary Lydia (Stephens) Wall on May 10, 1922, in the family home in Morton, Missouri. She was a 1939 graduate of Hardin High School. She then attended Central Missouri State Teachers College in Warrensburg where she majored in English and Social Studies. Upon graduation in 1943 Virginia was named "Outstanding Senior Girl", and received the George Charno award which had been established in 1941. In 1953, she earned her Master of Education degree from the University of Missouri in Columbia. Virginia taught school for 48 years, 3 in Holden, Missouri, and 45 at Chillicothe High School, retiring in 1991. While serving as head of the English department at Chillicothe High School, she taught English classes from sophomores to seniors including English as a college preparatory course and was senior class sponsor for 41 years. She taught several thousand students, directed 52 three-act plays, and managed 41 baccalaureates and graduations. She earned many professional awards throughout her career. In 1957, she was one of 25 English and Social Studies teachers in the Midwest selected to attend a COE Fellowship at the University of Wyoming-Laramie for six weeks. In 1985, she received the Northwest District MSTA Outstanding Educator Award. In 1989, she received a citation for merit for outstanding achievement and meritorious service in education by the Alumni Association of the University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri. After her retirement in 1991, the library at Chillicothe High School was renamed the Virginia Wall Media Center. On November 12, 1997, Governor Mel Carnahan presented her with a proclamation recognizing her "high level of professionalism and dedication to the education field." Lastly, in March of 2001, Virginia received the Golden Apple award by Newspapers Education, presented by the Constitution Tribune. During college, Virginia took vocal lessons and sang as a soloist at two churches. Aside from teaching, her singing talent was called upon innumerable times as a soloist for weddings and funerals. She was a member of many local choirs including the Litton Chorus and the United Methodist Choir. In 1972, she was the inspiration for the naming of a local band. The group of six boys, most of whom were seniors, were proving to be popular with their music but had no formal name. With her reluctant permission, the group became known as The Virginia Wall. Virginia was a member of the United Methodist Church, Chillicothe, Missouri, where she was also a member of the administrative council of the church and member and past president of the United Methodist Women and Hannah Circle. She was also a member of MSTA, MATE, and NCTE; a 50 year member of P.E.O.; member of Lambda chapter, Delta Kappa Gamma; a 58 year member of AAUW; an honorary member of Chillicothe Rotary Club and was a Paul Harris Fellow; chairman of the Pendleton Board of Trustees, a trust fund for interest-free loans for graduates of Chillicothe High School; Retired and Senior Volunteer Program; Retired Teachers of Missouri and of Livingston County; and a member of GFWC XIX Club. Lastly, she was a member of the board of the Virginia Wall Scholarship Fund, a not-for-profit foundation established by the students of 1950-1959 at their Maxi Reunion in 1986. Two scholarships are given each year to graduating CHS seniors, one for $3,000 and one for $2,000. Survivors include four cousins, Donald Stephens and wife Marie of Decatur, Alabama, Charles Corporon of Pittsburg, Kansas, John Corporon of Brooklyn, New York, and Nelson Corporon of Richmond, Missouri. She was preceded in death by her parents and eleven cousins. Funeral services will be held at the United Methodist Church, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Saturday, July 23, 2016, at 10:30 a.m. There is no scheduled family visitation. Friends may call at the Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Friday, July 22, 2016, from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Burial will be held at Lavelock Cemetery, Hardin, Missouri. Memorial contributions may be made to the Virginia Wall Scholarship Fund and/or United Methodist Church of Chillicothe and/or Morton Church of Hardin and may be left at or mailed to Lindley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 47, Chillicothe, Missouri 64601. Online condolences may be made at www.lindleyfuneralhomes.com . Arrangements are under the direction of Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri.