Virginia Encie (Hughes) COURSON

COURSON, HUGHES, ISHIHARA

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 6/17/2010 at 11:56:17

BELMOND, IA — Virginia Courson, 81, died April 21, 1998, in Rockwell, Md. Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at United Methodist Church, Belmond, with the Rev. Celestyne Devance officiating. There will be no visitation. Dugger Ewing Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Virginia Encie Courson was born April 24, 1916, in Keokuk, to Pearl and Wilbur Hughes. She graduated from high school in Hamilton, Ill. She earned a B.A. in music from Cornell College in Mount Vernon, and continued graduate studies at Drake University. She was united in marriage with Ronald W. Courson on June 22, 1937. After living a brief time in Des Moines and Cedar Rapids, they made their home in Belmond, where Ron was in the insurance and real estate business for more than 50 years. Virginia was an avid musician and composer. She was an instructor of piano, accompanied for high school students at state music contests and the community chorus, organist at the United Methodist Church and an actor in the community theater. She founded the original Animal Rescue League in Belmond, and was instrumental in the formation of the Lake Cornelia Improvement Association. She spearheaded the effort to raise funds for the purchase of the pipe organ at the Methodist Church. She was a member of P.E.O. and the Belmond Area Arts Council.

She will be remembered for writing many songs. She wrote the music for "The Belmond Song" which was performed at Belmond's Centennial and Quasquicentennial celebrations. The high school chorus per-formed the song, "I Would Be Crucified of Self" in 1958. Other inspirational songs include, "Only Believe," "God's Eternal Music," "We Are All Rising to the Sun" and "My Soul Wait Thou Only Upon God."

She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Ronald and Jane Courson of Arvada, Colo., Robert and Lyn Courson of Belmond, Timothy and Maru Courson of Centerville, Va.; a daughter and son-in-law, Melody and Michio Ishihara of Rockville, Md.; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and many friends. Virginia was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ron; and her son, Steven.

August 12, 1998
Mason City (Iowa) Globe Gazette