Virginia Kathleen (Wilson) McFarland (1922-2015)

MCFARLAND, WILSON, GATES, SMITH, BOELTER, HAND

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 2/10/2015 at 17:44:35

Obituary From Adams Soderstrum Funeral Home, Story County, Iowa.

Virginia Kathleen McFarland was born April 12, 1922 to John A. and Hattie (Gates) Wilson on a farm near Rowley in Buchanan County, Iowa. Her first two years of schooling were at the one-room Lone Tree Country School before the family moved to a farm closer to Rowley, where she completed her education through high school, graduating in 1939. In high school, she sang soprano in the glee club, played forward for the girls basketball team, and shortstop on the softball team. After working for a year, she attended Pitzies' School of Beauty Culture in Waterloo. She graduated from Pitzies, passed the State Board exam and received her Iowa Cosmetology License in 1941. She worked at Marj's Beauty Shop in Independence throughout WWII.

Roller skating was a popular pastime enjoyed by Virginia, and that was how she met Burr McFarland, her future husband. Virginia and Burr were married on August 25, 1945 by the Navy Hospital Chaplain in Norman, Oklahoma, where he was recovering from wounds received when his ship was sunk off of Okinawa. After he was discharged from the Navy, they moved to Ames where he attended Iowa State College. She became a accomplished homemaker, firstly in temporary corrugated iron barracks for married students with two children, until Burr graduated in 1949. They stayed in Ames for 50 years in a family home they built to raise a family of three boys and one girl, pursue their work and community life, and enjoy their retirement.

Virginia became an accomplished homemaker and stay-at-home mom, devoted wife for her husband in 64 years of marriage, loving mother for her children, and doting grandmother for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. It was important to Virginia to make her home attractive, comfortable and welcoming within modest means. She enjoyed having family and friends into her home for meals and visits. Children and grandchildren were important to her and she enjoyed having them all come for holiday and birthday celebrations. All of the family, and many friends, can attest to her culinary skills. As some of grandchildren remember, she excelled at baking cookies and in getting them to try things they thought they didn't like. One granddaughter always reminded her, "Grandma, you like everything!" Sewing was also an interest for her. Virginia was always making clothes and garments or performing alterations. She was fond of her vegetable garden and was proud of the quality and quantity of canned and frozen foods she put up each summer, donating many items to her church for their annual bazaar. She was equally proud of her flower garden and kept some flowers growing even after moving to an apartment retirement home. One favorite is a Coleus that has been growing since receiving a cutting in 1946, passed down to her from her great-grandmother.

Virginia was a reliable volunteer for church and community organizations and an active member of First United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women. She delivered Meal-On-Wheels for 25 years and also provided background support for Burr that enabled him to engage in his wide range of community, church and family activities for decades. Virginia traveled extensively with Burr across Iowa and the USA, from coast-to-coast and north-to-south, visiting numerous sites of national significance and natural wonder. They traveled twice to New Zealand sight-seeing from end-to-end and living there for several months, and to Fiji where they experienced the tourist resorts and also authentic local life that tourists do not often see.

Virginia passed away at 92 years of age on January 4, 2015 at Bethany Manor in Story City.

Virginia is survived by relatives spread across the USA, New Zealand, Australia and Japan. Included are three sons and one daughter, Dennis (Suzy) McFarland, of Hamilton, New Zealand, David (Dolly) McFarland, of Moville, Paul (Cathy) McFarland, of Indianola and Carol (Duane E.) Smith, of Ames; nine grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren; two brothers, Delbert Wilson, of Rowley and James (Leone) Wilson, of Coupeville, Washington; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 64 years, Burr McFarland; four brothers, Lloyd, Leland, Lyle and Ralph; two sisters, Eileen Boelter and Thelma Hand; a half-brother, Duane Wilson; and three nephews, Rex Wilson, Jeffrey Wilson and Delvin Wilson.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to First United Methodist Church in Ames.

Burial of the cremated remains will be in the Ames Municipal Cemetery at a later date.

JAN 9 Memorial Service 11:00AM
First United Methodist Church
516 Kellogg Avenue
Ames, IA, US

http://www.adamssoderstrum.com/
 

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