Virginia Ruth Newman

She grew up on a farm in Gage County attending a country school, Barneston H.S., and Odell H.S. where she graduated at the age of 16. She was a member and leader in 4H for 6 years. She attended the University of Nebraska (Lincoln) receiving an Associate Degree and certification as an elementary teacher. She taught in Diller and Prague, Nebraska where she met another teacher, an army veteran Clark Robert Newman. They were married on May 18, 1949 and had 2 daughters before moving to Kansas in 1956 and to Colorado Springs in 1960.

Virginia taught piano lessons, worked as a paraprofessional and attended U.C.C.S. graduating in 1973 with a B.S. in Education with honors. She taught 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades in District 11 for 12 years. As a retire teacher she was a member of several organizations. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church for over 60 years where she was a pianist for children and adult Sunday school classes and participated in many Bible Study groups. Her artistic talents were reflected in sewing, painting, writing and designing Clark’s stained-glass projects. She enjoyed her collections of Native American pottery, music box pianos, owls, thimbles, decorative eggs and amber glass figures. Her interest in genealogy began a journey of research that led her to an ancestor’s home in the Czech Republic continuing in correspondence with people she met there. She began a pen-pal relationship with a student in England when they were 12 years old writing regularly for 81 years and enjoying FaceTime visits most recently.

She was preceded in death by her husband (2012). She is survived by daughter Kathryn Joanne (Mike) Trapp of Colorado Springs and Patrice Suzanne Newman of Aurora, CO; sister Joanne Roman of Salem, OR; granddaughters Lana Trapp Marsh, Lisa Trapp Larson and Lindsay Jo Trapp, 2 great-granddaughters Halle and Briley Marsh; 2 nieces Malanee and Aimee; one nephew Rob and their families.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 11, 2023 in the Cathedral Room and First Presbyterian Church, 219 E. Bijou Street. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Virginia’s name to the music department at First Presbyterian Church for pawsforpurplehearts.org