Person:Virginia Zirkle (1)

Watchers
m. 19 Feb 1916
  1. Robert P. Zirkle1920 - 2006
  2. James Calvert Zirkle1922 - 2008
  3. Virginia I. Zirkle1923 - 2010
  4. Margorie E. Zirkle1925 - 2010
  5. Preston ZirkleBef 1950 - Bef 1950
Facts and Events
Name[2] Virginia I. Zirkle
Alt Name[1] Virginia I. Jirkle
Gender Female
Birth[2] 18 Sep 1923 Lafayette, Tippecanoe, Indiana, United States
Census[1] 1940 York, Van Wert, Ohio, United StatesVirginia I. Jirkle, 16
Death[2] 18 Jan 2010 Lima, Allen, Ohio, United States
Burial[2] Woodland Union Cemetery, Van Wert, Van Wert, Ohio, United StatesVirginia I. Zirlke

Obituary

Posted on Find A Grave

Virginia I. Zirkle, 86, died at 2:14 p.m. Jan. 18, 2010, at St. Rita's Medical Center.

She was born Sept. 18, 1923, in Lafayette, Ind., to Paul and Gladys Calvert Zirkle, who preceded her in death.

Miss Zirkle was a Putnam County Extension Home Economist from 1947 to 1988. She received her bachelor's degree from The Ohio State University and her master's degree from Columbia University Teachers College. She taught two years at Sugar Creek Local Schools in Putnam County. She was named a Certified Home Economist from 1986 to 1997. During her career she influenced and positively changed the lives of thousands of students. In 1978, she was given a full professorship at OSU, where she was one of the first women named to the position, as well as one of the first to receive it without having a doctorate.

She was a loving and caring sister, aunt, great-aunt and true friend to many, and was a dedicated community servant who gave of herself in so many ways.

She had a long and earnest commitment to OSU, serving on several committees through the years and winning several awards. There was no greater Buckeye fan than her. She was an exemplary ambassador for the university having inspired numerous young adults to attend college, specifically OSU. She established a scholarship at the main campus for the College of Human Ecology and also sponsored the Virginia I. Zirkle Scholarship Fund at OSU-Lima. She was a lifelong member of St. Mark Evangelical Lutheran Church, Van Wert.

Her many honors and awards included: nominated for the OSU Distinguished Service Award in 2009; Epsilon Sigma Phi State Distinguished Service Award; U.S. Department of Agriculture Superior Recognition Award; the National Association of Extension Home Economists Distinguished Service Award; honored in "Who's Who in America," "Who's Who in American Women Leaders in America" and the "World's Who's Who of Women"; First Field Home Economist on the ECOP Home Economics Sub Committee; First Woman President of the Ohio Cooperative Extension Agents Association; named the Putnam County Outstanding Senior Citizen; the Putnam County OSU Alumni Club Distinguished Service Award; Certificate of Appreciation from the Ohio County Superintendents Association; and was chosen to be one of 25 people from Putnam County to work with the Enrich the Experience Program for Ohio School Children and Visitors to the Statehouse.

Her awards from and contributions to OSU included: Outstanding Leadership Award; Distinguished Alumni Award, College of Home Economics and Human Ecology; Meritorious Service Award from College of Food, Agriculture & Environmental Sciences; served as advocate on the main campus and OSU-Lima; member of OSU Alumni Association since 1946; member of OSU-Putnam County Alumni Club since 1945, where she held every office through the years, organized scholarship fundraisers and became permanent secretary in 1975; member of the Presidents Club and the Buckeye Club on main campus; was an active alumna and committee member of the College of Home Economics and Human Ecology on main campus since 1945; past member of the Advisory Council, Development Council, the Century Club and the 33/25 Committee at OSU-Lima; member of the committee that raised more than $1 million for the Nationwide and Farm Bureau 4-H Center on main campus, of which she also made a major personal contribution to the building fund.

She was a constant presence in the community. She was a member and former president of the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Service. She served on the charter commission for the village of Ottawa; was a charter member of the Friends of the Library; member of PSA 3 Agency on Aging board; member of the Putnam County Home Health & Hospice board; member and former president of the Putnam County Retired Teachers Association, where she was a corresponding secretary from 1998 to the present; member of the Safe & Drug Free School Advisory Board; member of the Putnam County Schools Business Advisory Council; former member of the Putnam County Heart Association; member of Putnam County Cancer Society for more than 35 years; member of the Putnam County Tuberculosis & Respiratory Disease Committee for 20 years; former member of the Putnam County Big Brothers Big Sisters board; contributor toward the building fund of Putnam County YMCA; member of the Fund Development Committee for Putnam County Council on Aging; served as Putnam County representative to seven-county Private Industry Council, where she was a member of the Training and Industry Need Committee and the Evaluation and Training Committee; served on the Women and Family Services board that served a seven-county area; served as a representative and OSU campaign committee for northwest OCES District; and served on Putnam/Hancock County Communities Leaders Committee that met with the Board of Regents regarding the establishment of a community college.

Survivors include a sister, Marjorie Robinson, of Severna Park, Md.; a sister-in-law, Becky Zirkle, of Venedocia; six nieces and nephews, Janet (Robert) Zuber, of Spencerville, Jean (James) Ringwald, of Van Wert, Beth Ann (Richard) Clement, of Venedocia, Dick Zirkle, of Celina, Dr. George (Diane) Robinson II, of York, Pa., and Gregory (Teresa) Robinson, of Severna Park, Md.; and three great-nieces and great-nephews, Robert "Lin" Robinson II, Madeleine Robinson and Julia Robinson.

She was preceded in death by three brothers, Preston, Robert and James (Irene) Zirkle; and a brother-in-law, Robert Robinson.

Memorial services will begin 3:30 p.m. today at Ottawa Presbyterian Church, Ottawa, with refreshments and fellowship to follow.

Services will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Mark Evangelical Lutheran Church, Van Wert, followed by a fellowship meal. The Rev. William C. Haggis will officiate.

References
  1. 1.0 1.1 Jirkle, Paul, in Van Wert, Ohio, United States. 1940 U.S. Census Population Schedule
    1940.

    HOH: Paul Jirkle [Zirkle]...f/o VIRGINIA I. JIRKLE, 16, b. abt 1924 in Indiana...

  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Virginia I. Zirkle, in Find A Grave.