Virginia Ruth (Ginny) Thurman

Mrs. Virginia Ruth (Ginny) Thurman, age 90, of McPherson, KS , passed away at 7:40 PM, Thursday, April 13th, 2006 at Cedars Health Care Center, McPherson, Kansas. Virginia Ruth Reider Thurman of McPherson, Kansas died on Thursday, April 13, 2006 at McPherson, Kansas. She was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, January 15, 1916 to John Herman Reider and Anna Elizabeth Loesser, one of three children. She attended Park Grade School and graduated from Lincoln High School. She attended the University of Nebraska School of Journalism for three years. Virginia married Wayne Thurman December 25, 1938, in Lincoln. A daughter Ann was born to this marriage on January 1942. Ann died in December 8, 1971 of cancer at the age of 29 years.The wife of a military officer needs to move around the world at the drop of a hat and each place they land must be 'home' for a little while. Virginia had no trouble moving and even found time to carry on some of her civic duties as well. While stationed in Alaska she managed to start a newspaper, which the last we heard, was still going strong. She also managed to take some classes at the University of Alaska.While stationed at Madison, Wisconsin she was President of a P.E.O. chapter and also organized a new chapter of this society. Again she took courses at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Virginia was asked by the University to join a troupe of 24 people to make a months tour of the USSR. In the 1955 one could not be sure of getting into the country but their anxiety turned into relief when all the troupe got into Russia. On their return, Virginia was listed with the University of Wisconsin’s Speakers Bureau. There was a great deal of interest in the USSR at this time and anyone who visited Russia was in great demand as a speaker. Virginia was the President of the Officers Wives Club at several bases as well as sometimes Choir Director at the local church. Virginia was also a member of the American Pen Women. At Washington D. C., our nations capitol, Virginia became active in musical circles. She was asked to join The Friday Morning Music Club which was an organization of professional musicians. As a soprano she gave several concerts, but the greatest accomplishment started by the club, was the New Center For The Performing Arts. They worked hard for a place worthy of the Nations capitol, for performers and patrons alike. Soon the National Orchestra joined the fray and when the Congress and President Eisenhower took charge, success was assured and the Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts was born.Virginia is preceded in death by her parents, John and Anna Elizabeth Reider; her daughter, Ann Elizabeth, her brother, Alfred H. Reider and her sister, Alvina Lebsack.Virginia is survived by her husband, Wayne of 67 years of marriage, McPherson, Kansas; her sisters-in-law, Maurine Thurman, of Alexandria, Virginia and Mabel Thurman, of McPherson, Kansas; many nieces and nephews, Virginia Perkins and her husband Wayne of Tucson, Arizona, Barbara Spencer and her husband Dr. Beryl, of Ogallala, Nebraska, A. Ronald Thurman and his wife Judy, of Bryson City, North Carolina, Marilyn Ragland and her husband, Tom, of Riverside, Connecticut, Betty Jean Innes and her husband Douglas, of Hays, Kansas, Robert Davis and his wife Patricia, of San Ramon, California, Charles Davis and his wife Lynn, of Shawnee, Oklahoma, Fred Turner, of Berwyn, Illinois, Jon Lebsack, of Ypsilanti, Michigan, Joan Dreher and her husband Wesley, of Arvada, Colorado, Duane Thurman, and his wife Joan, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Keith Thurman and his wife Shirley, of Tensleep, Wyoming, Maryann Jackson, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, John Thurman, of Alexandra, Virginia, Janet Murphy of Boston, Massachusetts, Joyce Williams of Acton, Massachusetts, Douglas Thurman, of Alexandria, Virginia, and Dolores Weatherly and her husband Dick, of McPherson, Kansas; other cousins, great nieces and nephews, and a host of friends.Visitaion will be held on Monday, April 17, 2006 from 3 to 8 p.m. with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. at Glidden - Ediger Chapel, McPherson, Kansas.The funeral service will be conducted by Dr. Claude E. Griffith at 10:30 a.m., on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 at the Glidden - Ediger Chapel, McPherson, Kansas.Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Thursday, April 20, 2006 at the Crown Hill Cemetery, Denver, Colorado.Memorials are suggested to the McPherson Opera House in care of the Glidden - Ediger Funeral Home; 222 West Euclid Street; McPherson, Kansas 67460Glidden - Ediger Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangementsOlinger Crown Hill Mortuary in charge of services in Denver.