WALLER, L. Viola 1876-1927

WALLER

Posted By: Kathy Gerkins (email)
Date: 9/11/2013 at 19:20:23

Waller, L. Viola

VIOLA WALLER DIED TUES. IN RAVENA, OHIO

The death of Miss L. Viola Waller occurred in the hospital at Ravenna, Ohio last Tuesday morning, March 1, 1927.

The body was accompanied home by her sister, Mrs. Miranda Merckel of Bay City, Michigan and by her niece, Mrs. Edward Wade of Flint, Michigan.
Private funeral services will be held from the family residence at 605 North Johnson Street at two o'clock Monday afternoon. Burial will be made in Riverside Cemetery.

Miss Waller was fifty-one years of age and the immediate cause of her death was cerebral hemorrhage.

The funeral is in charge of Lindaman Brothers.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IN MEMORIAM

L. Viola Waller was born on a farm near Darlington, Wis., the daughter of J. Nelson and Jennie Waller. In her early childhood the family removed to Charles City, IA., where the resided on a farm at the edge of town.

She received her education in the city schools and was graduated from the high school in the class of 1890. She then completed the normal course in penmanship and art offered by the Shenandoah Teachers' College and was graduated from the Cedar Rapids Business College.

Her long and exceptionally successful career as a teacher began in the public schools of Hampton, IA., where she taught penmanship and art. She advanced after two years to a similar position in Charles City which she filled for many years. She was a remarkably gifted penman and there are many of her former pupils who recall their admiration of her skill.

But her chief interest, for herself and for her pupils, lay in the study of art. With unflagging enthusiasm, she sought to develop her great natural talent in this direction. Vacation days for her were never idle. She passed summer after summer studying in the best art schools and under the ablest private masters in Chicago and New York. She was graduated from the Chicago School of Applied Arts and the Chicago Industrial School and almost completed the course at the Chicago Art Institute. She attended the famous Berkshire Art School for two summers. She did not limit her studies to art, but also took a number of professional and cultural courses at the University of Chicago.

Her work as an artist and a teacher was bound to receive recognition. For many years she was secretary of the Western Arts Association, a national organization having an eastern and western branch. Various cities made her attractive offers as director of art in their schools. She passed in successive promotion from Charles City to Danville, Ill., Houston, Tex., St. Joseph, Mo., Joplin. Mo., and Wenatchee, Wash. Nor were these rapid moves. In each city she remained long enough to make her influence strongly felt and to win a permanent place in the regard and affection of her associates.

For seven years, she held a very responsible position as art director in the Northern State Teachers' college of California at Arcata. Her splendid work there was done under the terrible handicap of serious sickness and long continued suffering. Hoping for improvement in her health and greatly desiring to be near her aged mother, Miss Waller resigned her California position to accept a similar one in the Indiana State Teachers' college at Terre Haute. Her mother's critical illness and her own poor heath caused her to resign this position last fall. For a short time she was at home; then with her anxiety for her mother somewhat relieved and with resolute ambition driving her to work, she accepted a call to the schools of Ravenna, Ohio.
She taught till within two weeks of her death, when she was forced to enter the hospital. Her sister and niece were with her and she had the best medical attention, but her long weakened system was incapable of rallying from a complication of troubles. She passed away on Wednesday, March second.

Miss Waller was always a genial cordial soul, greatly enjoying her social contacts. Chapter C.Y.P.E.O. owes its organization to her interest and leadership. As long as she remained in Charles City, she was a prominent member and very active in promoting the chapter's welfare. She was also deeply interested in the order of the Eastern Star and filled the office of Worthy Matron at one time. She was a member of the Congregational Church, but later transferred her membership to the Presbyterian Church.

She was a devoted daughter on whose love and strength her mother rested with perfect reliance. Her younger brother and sister found her always ready with aid in whatever form they sought it. To her niece, she was almost a second mother. She was unquestionably an inspirational teacher, demanding for herself and her students the highest standards. She sought always the advancement of her students, planning with them to find means for completing their courses and seeking to develop in them her own determination to succeed in the face of every discouragement. As a zealous and consecrated teacher she has left an indelible impress on a multitude of young people. It is a great and worthy mission to devote a life, as Miss Waller did, to opening young eyes to the beauty on which the soul feeds. She tried to awaken in her students the keen joy in beauty which animated her own spirit, and, in doing so, she was giving to them one of the keys to a rich life here and hereafter.

Newspaper clippings from Floyd County Museum.