Virginia Dell Primrose, 89, Malvern

    Virginia Dell Primrose, age 89, of Malvern, died at her home in Malvern on July 29, 2009. Funeral Services were held Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009, at First Baptist Church in Malvern. Rev. Shirley Albert officiated. Interment was in the Malvern Cemetery.

    One of five daughters of Frank Edwin and Hildor Louise (Borene) Chamberlain, she was born on May 9, 1920, on a farm southwest of Malvern. She grew up and attended Goodfellow and Maple Grove country schools and graduated from Malvern High School in 1938. While in school, she was active in 4-H and won honors judging poultry at the Iowa State Fair, the International Livestock Exposition and the World Poultry Congress at Cleveland, Ohio. She attended Peru State College in Peru, Neb., and the University of Omaha and received her teaching degree.  She taught at several country schools including Forest Grove, Maple Grove, Foxworthy, Elm Grove and Pleasant Valley.  She also taught second grade at Chantry Elementary School in Malvern. After 21 years, she retired from teaching but continued to substitute for another 12 years. She later was a bookkeeper for the Blackburn Oil Company in Malvern.

    She and Donald Ashley Primrose were married on June 8, 1958, at her parent’s home near Malvern. They lived in the house Mr. Primrose had built on Lincoln Avenue in Malvern, and their marriage was blessed with a son, Richard Frank.

    Mrs. Primrose was a member of the Malvern First Baptist Church and at the young age of 14 years, she began teaching Sunday School. In 1990, she was acknowledged for her 56 years of service in the Sunday School department. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the HSC Club. She enjoyed gardening and attending area craft shows where her husband displayed his woodworking and handmade crafts. The family enjoyed traveling, and their favorite destination was Estes Park, Colo.  She and her husband were married 42 years when he died on June 14, 2000. Following his death, she remained active, and she and her son continued to travel and spend time together.

    She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Donald Primrose; sisters, Twyla Johnson; and Velma Houts. She is survived by her son, Richard Primrose of Malvern; sisters, Elva Sargent of Pacific Junction; and Naomi Christensen of Council Bluffs; nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.

    A memorial fund has been established.  Mansfield-Hertz Funeral Home of Malvern was in charge of arrangements.