Virginia Ruth Waller, 71

Virginia Ruth Waller, 71, died on Monday, Nov. 27, 2006, in Pottsboro, Texas.

Memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 15, 2006, at St. John's Episcopal Church in Pottsboro, with the Rev. Ally Perry officiating.

She was born on March 24, 1935, in Oklahoma City, Okla., to Wade and Juanita Shadrick Corder.

She married Jim Stravlo in 1953 in Oklahoma City. She later married Howard Waller in Las Vegas in 1973. He died in 1990.

Virginia received her bachelor of arts degree in education from the University of Central Oklahoma and her master's in education from Southeastern Oklahoma State University. She became a high school English teacher and counselor in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Olka.

After retiring, she was active in writing groups and wrote many wonderful short stories, including her published book, "Girl in the Middle."

Virginia also volunteer extensively with Grayson Adult Literacy, CASA, and was a board member of the Pend Oreille Arts Council in Sandpoint, Idaho, and the Grayson County Crisis Center.

Survivors include a son, Peter Stravlo and his wife, Peggy McGivern of Denver, Colo.; a daughter, Vicki Stravlo Chapin and her husband, Warren, of Tulsa, Okla.; brothers Harvey McCroskey and his wife, Janet, of Pottsboro, Texas, and Bob McGroskey and wife Sue of Chandler, Ariz.; stepson Scott Waller and his wife Cathy of Sand Springs, Okla., stepdaughter Lynn Waller of Tulsa, Okla., and five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, family members ask that memorials be made to the Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington, Ave., Montgomery, Ala., 36104, or your local Habitat for Humanity.