The Hawk Eye; Burlington IA; 2004-2-3

The Hawk Eye
Burlington, Iowa
Tuesday, February 3, 2004, 
Mary Alice Virden
Mary Alice Virden, 91, of Pleasant Manor Care Center in Mount Pleasant,
formerly of Salem, died at 8:55 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 1, 2004, at the care
center.  Born Sept. 22, 1912, in Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada, she was
the daughter of George Garfield and Edith Katherine Lair Leek. On Jan. 6,
1951, she married Joseph Ross "Joe" Virden in Lakeland, Fla. He died March
18, 1988.  Mrs. Virden taught school for 10 years in Canada. In 1941, she
entered the Royal Canadian Air Force, where she served as a WD private
in the motor transport division. She moved to the United States in 1946
and began teaching again.  She taught school for 11 years in Monmouth,
Ill., and two years in Mount Pleasant, retiring in 1971.  She received
her elementary and secondary education in Canada. In 1957, she received
her bachelor of arts degree from Monmouth College in Monmouth. In 1993
she made her home in Salem. She was a member of Oakland Mills Community
Church for 12 years.  Survivors include one stepson, Curtis Virden of
Ormond Beach, Fla.; and several nieces and nephews.  Besides her husband,
she was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers and three sisters.
There will be no visitation or funeral service for Mrs. Virden. A private
burial will be at a later date.  Memorials have been established for
Pleasant Point Church and Salem Senior Citizens Center.  Weir & Kimzey
Funeral Home in Mount Pleasant is in charge of arrangements.



Melfort Journal; 2004-5-19
Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada

19-May-2004 (Melfort Journal)    It is with sadness that we announce the
death, which occurred February 1, 2004, of Mary Alice (Leek) Virden,
of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, U.S.A. Alice was born in 1912 in the Melfort
district, received her schooling at Central Park and Melfort. She
spent her working life as a teacher, aside from four years service in
the RCAF during WWII.She leaves to mourn, one step-son Curtis Virden',
one brother-in-law James Haddick, and many nieces and nephews in Canada
and the U.S.A. She was predeceased by her husband Joe Virden; sisters:
Georgina, Irene and Jean; brothers: Jack and Reginald.A family memorial
and burial service was held at the Virden family farm, Mount Pleasant,
Iowa, on May 1, 2004. Fondly remembered by Ken, Mereda Leek and family
(Saskatoon).