Virginia Likens
Virginia Likens
Virginia Likens
August 17, 1924 – April 8, 2017
Barnes City, Iowa | Age 92
Virginia Bunting Likens, 92 of Barnes City passed away peacefully Saturday evening, April 8, 2017 at the Mahaska Health Partnership Hospice Serenity House in Oskaloosa. Virginia was born Aug. 17, 1924 to Clyde and Macy Bunting.
Virginia grew up on a farm near New Sharon, where she also attended school. Upon graduating high school, she immediately began her life-long teaching career. She taught in her early years in several one-room country schools (a feat which was recently honored in an article in “Our Iowa” magazine), eventually teaching in Barnes City and New Sharon, until retiring in 1989.
Virginia lived with her parents until meeting and marrying Paul Likens in 1966. She then added farm wife to her other joys.
Virginia’s life was full of a desire to help and serve everyone around her. She is treasured and adored by countless students who continue to marvel at her patience and kindness that made each child feel important and unique. Her copies of school yearbooks have many handwritten notes by students that began “You were my favorite teacher because…”.
Virginia spent her life caring for her parents, grandparents, husband and an endless number of family and friends, all of whom loved her letters, calls, gifts and unending thoughtfulness. Even throughout her last years, when she was living alone and in frequent pain, her thoughts were not of herself but of all the others she knew were in need. She lived a very frugal life and rarely spent money on herself, but when she treated someone with a gift, she found a way of getting the items they really treasured, no matter the expense.
Virginia was well known for her delicious and huge meals for family and friends, for her large and beautiful summer gardens, and for her love of all things crafty and creative. She had a life-long love of God, she studied many teachings and tried with all her might to be a living example of God’s love to all she touched.
Virginia is survived by a brother-in-law, Donald Baker; two nieces, Karen Bunting and Shalene Massick; two nephews, James Bunting and Edwin Baker; and six great-nieces and great-nephews: Jacqueline Conrad, Catherine Harris, Stephanie Alexander, Memory Bunting, Brian Lemke and Adam Massick. She also leaves the Dennis Flanders family, whose faithful help made it possible for her to stay in her own home until her last few days, which meant the world to her.
Virginia was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, husband and countless dear friends.
Funeral services will begin at 2:00 pm Friday, April 14, 2017 at the Holland-Coble Funeral Home in Montezuma.
Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.
Burial will be held in the Barnes City Cemetery in Barnes City.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Barnes City Volunteer Fire Department or the Stephens Memorial Animal Shelter.
