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SPONSLER, Virginia (SNETHEN)

SNETHEN, SPONSLER, MOORE, HAYNES, GIBSON, MYRICK, HINDES, GORDEN, KELLISON

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 3/2/2016 at 07:21:57

Obituary ~ Virginia (Snethen) Sponsler
June 07, 1924 ~ February 18, 2013

Corydon Times-Republican
Corydon, Iowa
February 26, 2013

Virginia Sponsler was born June 7, 1924, to Grant and Mary Snethen in Grand River, Iowa, and died Feb. 18, 2013, near Tehachapi, Calif. The oldest of seven children, she grew up in a 480 square foot house without electricity, running water or insulation on a small farm near Blythedale, Mo. Despite its limitations this house was a center of neighborhood hospitality and later, Virginia could remember few times when the family was not joined for dinner by friends or neighbors. Hardly feasts – Virginia first ate beef at age 12 after the family cow broke its leg on an icy pond - these twinned privations and open hospitality undoubtedly contributed to Virginia’s life-long habits of thrift, industry and friendship.

At age five, alone but for instructions to cross the field and turn right at the creek, and assured that she would see the school over the next rise, Virginia began her education in a one-room country schoolhouse, continuing it there until she moved to Lamoni to attend high school.

In Lamoni, Virginia also attended and graduated from Graceland College, after which she taught at a one-room school and graduated from Iowa State College with a degree in home economics. Following graduation, she interviewed for a job as the Wayne County Iowa Extension Home Economist and was hired despite the urgings of one member of the interview committee, James Sponsler. Despite his recommendations to others, he pursued her for himself and they were married March 26, 1950.

James had saved nearly all of his war-time pay and with it had purchased a small farm near his birthplace here. Together they set about meeting the challenges of making the operation successful. To Virginia’s chagrin, that task began with the trading of her stylish ’49 Plymouth coupe for a piece of farming equipment James thought necessary.

Over the next 50 years, Virginia worked hard in and out of the home. She kept the books for the farm, and for a related business they formed to deliver fertilizer to area farmers. She kept a large garden, sold encyclopedias and reported news for the Humeston New Era. She was later its editor, writing "Virginia’s Corner" each week, commenting upon community happenings.

Virginia and James had four children. Grant in 1951, Joy in 1953, Brian in 1955 and John in 1966. Virginia was a 4-H leader and a den mother. She compiled a large home library and sought out, obtained and used all manners of educational materials to enrich the learning of her children.

Until her final decline following a stroke last summer, Virginia was a woman of vigor and physical strength. In her 70s, she excavated at an archeological dig, at age 80, she could carry a five-gallon bucket of water in each hand, upstairs. She studied and implemented natural diets and remedies throughout her life, and she outlived a doctor’s prognosis by nearly twenty years. She had a sharp mind and a remarkable memory and enjoyed playing the piano and researching family history.

Virginia was an open and hospitable lady. She introduced herself easily and sought to be helpful in any gathering. Her genuine interest in others and its resulting hospitality was never feigned. Virginia was a member of the Yorel Study Club, the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Methodist Church.

Following James’ death, Virginia moved to Tehachapi, Calif., and greatly enriched the lives of her children and grandchildren there.

Virginia was predeceased by her parents; brother, Richard; husband James and their son, Grant.

She is survived by her daughter, Joy Moore and husband Thomas Moore of Joplin, Mo., son, Brian and wife Cathy Sponsler of Tehachapi and son, John Sponsler of Kansas City, Mo.; eight grandchildren, Sarah Moore Haynes and husband Bob, Joseph Moore, Mary Moore, James Sponsler, Joseph Sponsler, Molly Sponsler, Dan Sponsler, and Frank Sponsler; one great-grandson, Logan Haynes; three sisters, Margaret Gibson, Norma Ward and husband Hugh and Ina Myrick; two brothers, Earl Snethen and Tom Snethen and wife Cher; sisters-in-law, Betty Hindes and Muriel Sponsler; brothers-in-law, John Sponsler and wife Virginia and Joe Sponsler and wife Phyllis and aunts, Esther Gorden, Maxine Snethen and Helen Kellison.

Services are slated for Saturday, March 2, at the Humeston Christian United Methodist Church and her remains will be interred at Green Bay Cemetery.

Slade-O’Donnell Funeral Home in Leon was in charge of arrangements.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2016


 

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