Obituary of Virginia Pulliam

Virginia Anne Hufstedler Conner Pulliam Virginia Pulliam of Maplewood, Missouri, died peacefully on November 12, 2010, at the home of her daughter in Maplewood, Missouri. She was born January 11, 1913, at Bennett, Missouri, and was age 97 at the time of her death. On September 13, 1941, Virginia married Howard Conner at Doniphan, Missouri, and he preceded her in death on January 29, 1971, in St. Louis, Missouri. On August 8, 1974, Virginia married Woodrow Pulliam in Maplewood, Missouri, and joined him to live in Doniphan, Missouri. Woodrow died at Doniphan on October 24, 1996. Virginia was also preceded in death by her parents, Sam and Phenie (Ollar) Hufstedler, and four of her siblings - Horace Hufstedler at age 93, Grace Hufstedler Rohlfs at age 102, Eunice Hufstedler Hurt at age 94, and S. R. "Si" Hufstedler who was killed in World War II in 1941. Two siblings still survive: Bess Hufstedler Green in Doniphan, age 101, and John Hufstedler in Arizona, age 99. From the early 1930s through mid-1970s, Virginia was an elementary school teacher; at first in Ripley County rural schools such as Little Barren and Running Water, followed by teaching in a variety of locales where her husband Howard Conner served as United Methodist minister. At the time of her retirement, she taught at Ballwin School in Rockwood District of St. Louis County. During her subsequent years in Doniphan, she remained active in church and also served on many civic committees as well as the hospital board. Virginia also enjoyed hosting annual family reunion gatherings at their 508 Grand Avenue home for more than 20 years. She was a delightful, outgoing and generous person her entire life. Virginia is survived by her two children, Larry Conner of West Plains, Missouri, and Ann Conner Clark of Maplewood, Missouri, and step-daughter Barbara Pulliam Williams; grandchildren Scott Clark, Leigh Ann Clark, Art Conner, Debbie Conner Hart, Marie Conner Holesapple, and K. Rae Hodo; and six great-grandchildren. Virginia Pulliam's funeral service will be at Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan, Missouri. Visitation will be 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, November 17th, followed by the memorial service at 10 a.m. Thursday morning, November 18th. She will later be buried beside her first husband Howard Conner at Oak Hill Cemetery in Kirkwood, Missouri. In lieu of flowers, contributions are preferred to the organizations where both Virginia and Woody Pulliam were very active - the Doniphan Chapter of the American Cancer Society, or the Doniphan United Methodist Church.