HENDERSON - Virginia Estella Knapp was born on
May 11, 1919, on the very first National Mother's Day in Washington D.C. to
Bradford and Stella White Knapp. She passed on to be with her loved ones on
May 13, 2009. She moved to Lubbock, when her father, Bradford, became the
second President of Texas Tech University. She graduated from Texas Tech
University in 1940 and started her high school teaching career in Silverton.
She continued to teach history and journalism in Electra, Joinerville,
Carthage, and Longview high schools. Virginia also taught at Trinity
University and Texas A&M University in the summer sessions. While teaching she
continued her education with fellowships at Sul Ross
College, Stephen F. Austin University and University of Texas to complete her
Master's Degree. With her love of history she became the Rusk County
Historical Commissioner in 1980 and served for 22 years. She completed the
Henderson Main Street Project with many buildings receiving their historical
markers. Virginia also received many awards in her career including, Wall
Street Journal Outstanding Journalism Teacher of the Year 1965-1966; Trail
Blazer Award for Texas High School Press Association 1980; Woman of the Year
Award 1983 Texas State Teachers Assn.; Women in Communications President of
Longview Chapter 1972-74; 1975 Service Award of Texas Press Women; Board
Member (Finance Chrm) of Gaston Museum and Who's Who in America 2002-2008.
Virginia is survived by many nieces and nephews across Texas, Montana, Utah,
and Iowa, that love her energy and thirst for knowledge and history. She is
appreciated, honored, and loved by many of her students, co-educators and
relatives. Services will be at 4 p.m. Saturday, May 16, 2009, at Crawford-A.
Crim Funeral Home Chapel, 1414 South Main Street, Henderson, Tx. 775614.
Burial will be in the Lubbock City Cemetery in the Knapp family plot. Gifts
may be made to the Gaston Museum or the Depot Museum in her honor. Visitation
will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 16, 2009, one hour before service time, at the
funeral home.