Virgina Catherine Zirkle

Virginia Showalter Lemley Zirkle was born July 19, 1909 in Wetzel County, West Virginia to Simon and Florence Showalter. She married Chalmer Lemley on November 8, 1924. In the fall of 1925, they moved to Kenbro, Kansas, which is close to Madison, Kansas, where Mr. Lemley was employed by Sinclair Oil Company. Kenbro was a booming oil field at that time. They resided in the Kenbro area until 1958. Mr. Lemley preceded her in death on July 4, 1958 after a long battle with cancer. Virginia cared for him during this illness, and then decided to enter the nursing profession.
Virginia went to Kansas City Medical Center Nursing School for two years. Upon graduating, she returned to Newman Hospital in Emporia, Kansas where she was employed for five years. The last three years, she was Charge Nurse in the new Geriatrics Wing until September of 1965. She accepted a position at Jane Phillips Hospital in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. She was employed there for six years in the Geriatric Wing. She then moved to Skiatook, Oklahoma, where she was employed at the Skiatook Nursing Home for two years. She then retired from full time employment. Virginia moved to Cleveland, Oklahoma, which was half way between her two children. Her son Don Lemley, lived in Fairfax, Oklahoma and her daughter, Shirley McCollough lived in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. She was employed as a relief nurse at the Cleveland Hospital and also at the Cleveland Nursing Home. She also volunteered at the Senior Citizens Center to take blood pressures and provided meals.
Virginia retired from nursing to care for her elderly mother in West Virginia, who had fallen and broken her hip. While residing in West Virginia, she met Coy Zirkle. They were married in May of 1977 and she moved to Akron, Ohio. The Zirkles were a special group of family to her. Coy Zirkle preceded her in death on August 12, 1997. While residing in Akron, Ohio for 20 plus years, Virginia had continued to receive the Cleveland American Newspaper and read about the Baptist Retirement Village having an apartment available. She decided to move back to Okalhoma to be near her family. She felt at home and comfortable at ìThe Villageî. Life was full and she lived among good people.
Virginia passed away July 17, 2006 at the age of 96 years 11 months and 28 days. She was preceded in death by her parents Simon and Florence Showalter, two husbands Chalmer Lemley, Coy Zirkle, son Donald Lemley, daughter in law Vivian Lemley, son in law Neal McCollough, two brothers Ralph and Don, three sisters Thelma, Gladys, and Mabel.
Survivors include a daughter Shirley McCollough of Tulsa, Oklahoma, a granddaughter Deanne Lemley Hudson of Rogers, Arkansas; three grandsons Steve Lemley of South Haskell, Oklahoma; Keith McCollough of Sapulpa, Oklahoma; Larry McCollough of Tulsa, Oklahoma, granddaughter Julia Lemley of Cushing, Oklahoma, 11 great grandchildren several great great grandchildren and many nieces and nephew in West Virginia and Okalhoma.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, July 20, 2006 at 10:00 am at the Chapman-Black Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. George Weston officiating. Burial follow in the Blakeley Cemetery at 3:00 pm at Madison, Kansas under the direction of Chapman-Black Funeral Home, Inc.
Visit an online obituary, guestbook, and Lifestory Video Tribute for Virginia Zirkle at www.chapman-black.com.