Virginia Felker

Virginia Felker , nee Guldbrandsen, passed peacefully on Friday March 13, 2015. She was 94 years old.

Virginia is survived by her son, Peter, daughters Nona, Mary Ann and Elsa, 10 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, extended family and many friends in California, South Carolina, Texas and Canada. She was preceded in passing by her sister Mary Jane Bisset of Whittier, California and Johanna Miller of Elwood City, Pennsylvania her husband of 55 years, Rev. E.A. Felker of Newberry, South Carolina.

Virginia was born in Elwood City, Pennsylvania August 18, 1920 to Peter Guldbrandsen, a draftsman and native of Denmark and Bessie May Guldbrandsen nee Arkwright, a housewife.

In her early years, Virginia helped to raise her sisters after her father’s death when she was 11 years old. After graduating from Elwood City high school she attended Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania graduating as a teacher in 1945. After graduation, Virginia worked with the Lutheran Women’s Organization primarily teaching children. For her work, she was featured on the cover of Lutheran Women’s Work in 1946. That cover-story introduced Rev. E.A. Felker to Virginia and prompted him to begin writing to her. They were married later that year.

Shepherding parishioners and her family alongside her husband she made homes in Pennsylvania, New Brunswick, Ontario, South Carolina, Georgia and most recently, California.

Virginia taught school children well into her seventies, was active in her church, enjoyed the outdoors, loved to travel and made friends wherever she went. She was an amazing story-teller both in English and in Danish.

Virginia will be remembered at Grace Lutheran Church in Prosperity, South Carolina on Saturday, March 21, 2015 at 11am. All who enjoyed her company are welcome to attend. Memorial contributions are welcome and can be address to Newberry County Family YMCA Annual Scholarship Campaign, ATTN: Pam Lister, PO Box 662, Newberry, SC 29108.

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