Virginia Maxine Ready Quiring Hannah went to her Heavenly Home on June 12 after a long and productive life. As a woman who loved and honored God, Virginia was blessed with an extraordinary life. Throughout her life, Virginia worked in quiet dedication to serving others. She expressed that dedication through her love for education and her desire to pass that onto others in her family, her profession, and her community.

Virginia was born on December 21, 1921, in Metz, MO, and was the daughter of Wesley Milford Ready and Margie Lee Bentley Ready. Virginia was 104 years old and had been a resident of Arbor Oaks in Bryan, TX after living most of her life in Kansas.

Virginia lived on a farm her first 12 years, where her loving, caring parents taught her many skills. At a young age, she learned to ride a pony, drive a team of horses, and milk a cow. Starting in 3rd grade, Virginia rode her pony, Shorty, to school. In 4th grade she started violin lessons. Her parents nurtured her fascination with history. Being college educated, her parents taught Virginia the value and joy of learning that consumed the rest of her life. Unfortunately, disaster struck in 1932. Because of financial hardship, the family lost their farm during the depression when Virginia was only 12.

To pursue a new start, Virginia’s family moved to Wichita, KS. There, Virginia began her early education, graduating from Wichita High School North and Ottawa University, in Ottawa, KS. Virginia married J. Melvin Quiring on September 30, 1944, in Wichita, KS, and had two children, Jay and Susan. During her family years, Virginia wanted to expose her children to many learning experiences, so she became a very involved mother as a Cub Scout Den Mother, a Camp Fire Guardian, 4-H leader, room mother, Sunday School teacher, and tutor of neighborhood children. Above all, she wanted her children to understand the value of life-long learning that included social skills, history, the love of books, and an appreciation of their family’s ancestral history to understand the origins of their values. Virginia also loved to keep and create traditions and memories for her children and grandchildren to cherish throughout their lives.

After raising her children and moving to Manhattan, KS, in 1971, Virginia embarked on a new career, earning master’s degrees in Librarianship and in Educational Administration from Emporia State University. She started her first job as a cataloger at Kansas State University (KSU) and eventually retired 19 years later as Associate Dean of Libraries.

During those productive years, she published journal articles, edited and/or compiled four books, studied and implemented the “New Copyright Law”, and selected a rare book in Oxford, England, for the KSU millionth volume. She is probably best known for organizing and supervising the Friends of KSU Libraries and planning the first gala that continues today as a “Friends” activity. Virginia was highly respected by her colleagues. As a result, she was awarded the 1987 Distinguished Graduate Award from the Emporia State University School of Library and Information Management, was awarded the 1997 Distinguished Service Award presented by the College and University Libraries Section of Kansas Library Association (KLA). In addition,

she was active in professional organizations, serving as Vice President and President of Beta Phi Mu (International Library Science Honor Society), was Vice President and President of Kansas Library Association of College and University Libraries Section of the KLA, and a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International.

After retirement, Virginia continued to be involved in her community, supporting the Volunteer Tax-Aide Program, KSU Social Club, Manhattan Community Theatre, and Manhattan Arts Center. She was also the Program Chair and President of Riley County Historical Society, an active member of First Baptist Church, establishing her church’s library, as well as being a part-time employee of the Riley County Historical Society and Museum. Virginia also worked in the box office at the Civic Theatre, Riley County Historical Museum, and established a library in Haiti on a mission trip.

In 2011, she moved to Bryan/College Station, TX to reside near her daughter, Susan. Here, Virginia met and married Richard A Hannah, Jr. in 2013. They enjoyed traveling, dancing, exercise classes, the Brazos Valley Symphony, and any activity they could do together.

A lifelong learner, Virginia loved books, history, cultural events, and traveling. Her philosophy of life could be summarized, “To continue to learn is to continue to live”. She continued living a life of learning through reading and traveling, having visited all 50 states and about 25 foreign countries. Because of her interest in history, all her trips included not only learning about the places they visited by perusing museums and seeing historical sites, but also finding adventures!

Virginia was always dressed to perfection and maintained an impeccable character and bearing. Her friends saw her as a faithful friend and willing listener. Always curious, she never shied away from new adventures, was always willing to try new things and eager to learn more about the world around her.

Virginia was predeceased by her husbands, J. Melvin Quiring and Richard Hannah, her son, Jay Quiring, and her sister, Irma Shelley. She is survived by her daughter Susan Quiring of College Station, TX, two grandchildren Jeffery Schmitt and wife Lora of Boynton Beach, FL and Kimberly Quiring (Topeka, KS), and six great grandchildren, 8 great great grandchildren, a cousin, several nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held Tuesday, June 30, 5:00-7:00pm with a brief Celebration of Life at 6:00 PM at Callaway Jones Funeral Home, 3001 College Ave, Bryan, TX. A Celebration of Life service will be held Wednesday, July 1, 2:00pm, at Arbor Oaks Retirement Center Chapel.

Virginia will be interred at Old Mission Cemetery, Wichita, KS. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Riley County Historical Museum, 2309 Claflin Rd., Manhattan, Ks 66502, First Baptist Church Bryan, TX, or to “Friends of the K-State Libraries”. A memorial for Virginia M. Quiring has been established at the Kansas State University Foundation. Contributions may be sent to: KSU Foundation, 1800 Kimball Ave., Ste 200, Manhattan, KS 66502, please indicate fund M47530. To make a gift online, go to www.ksufoundation.org/give/memorials. 

With special gratitude to Nathalia, Savannah, and Jenn for their love and tender care of my mom.