(From Parker Mortuary)Virginia Mae Stark, age 81, Joplin, passed away on Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at her home after a fight with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency.
Virginia was born May 5, 1939 in Salina, Oklahoma, daughter of the late Fred B. Rush and Genevieve G. (Ingersoll) Rush. She graduated from Joplin High School in 1957 and went to work for the high school Principal Greer while attending college where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in Education.
She taught high school business classes and then earned a master’s degree in Secondary Education. She was active in the Joplin NEA while teaching. After retiring she taught at Crowder College for an additional 11 years in business and computer classes.
She has maintained contact with friends and members of the class of 57 and their reunion activities. She enjoyed the monthly outings with the 57 Lunch Bunch. She enjoyed fishing, gardening, and sewing. She enjoyed traveling and always looked forward to going to the beach in Florida metal detecting and looking for seashells. She enjoyed remodeling skills to fix up houses, working side by side with her husband. She was a proud member of the Quapaw Intertribal Gourd Dancers Auxiliary and enjoyed dancing at area powwows. Her Indian friends meant a great deal to her. She made it a point to keep in contact with her family and extended relative’s.
Many did not know that she suffered from a genetic form of COPD. It’s called Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency which caused her to suffer from respiratory problems later in life. It was not unusual for her to fight off pneumonia several times a year.
She is survived by her husband of 42 years, Robert Stark; and her little dog, Abby.
Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary with no services scheduled at this time.
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