Virginia A. (Swanson) SCHMUCKER

SCHMUCKER, SWANSON, HILLMAN, HALL

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 3/17/2007 at 00:58:45

Ottumwa Courier, Ottumwa, Iowa
March 09, 2007

Virginia Schmucker, 87, Ottumwa

Virginia A. Schmucker, 87, died Wednesday, March 7, 2007, at Ridgewood Nursing and Rehab Center. She was born April 19, 1919 in Vincent, Iowa to David and Edna Hillman Swanson. She married Morton L. Schmucker June 23, 1946 in Fort Dodge. He died Sept. 22, 2006. A graduate of Eagle Grove High School, she received Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in music from the University of Iowa. She was a public school Music Supervisor in Eagle Grove and Storm Lake. In Ottumwa, she was a piano instructor, organist at Trinity Episcopal Church and assistant organist at First Presbyterian Church. She was past Dean of the Southeast Iowa American Guild of Organists and a board member of Ottumwa Civic Music and Southeast Iowa Symphony. She also wrote reviews of Civic Music for the Ottumwa Courier, was on the Search Committee for Talent of the Ottumwa Area Arts Council and was an Adjudicator for the Iowa High School piano competitions, Iowa Federation of Music Clubs competitions and the Southeast Iowa Symphony competitions. She served as accompanist for Thompson Stone, Conductor of the Handel-Haydn Society of Boston, was Music Chairman for Iowa State Convention of A.A.U.W. and co-chairman of music for State King’s Daughter’s Convention, State PEO Convention, University of Iowa School of Music Alumni Reunion and District Rotary Convention. She was a member of National Society of Arts and Letters, Honorary Music Fraternity Mu Phi Epsilon and an honorary member of Sigma Alpha Iota. From the University of Iowa, she received a Distinguished Alumni Award for her work as an accompanist and performer at Indiana University School of Music in Bloomington. She also recorded a CD, “The Magic of Music for the Piano.”

Survivors include relatives, Donald and Marla Hall and Jessica and Lucas Hall of Johnston. Graveside services will be 1 p.m. Monday, March 12, 2007, at Eagle Grove Cemetery, Eagle Grove with Rev. Mary Green officiating. No visitation is planned. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church or Ottumwa Regional Health Center. Robertson-Jay Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.