Born at Galena, MO, to Delmar and Bessie Standridge. She practiced teaching with dolls and at age 11 became teacher of the adult class in her church. She was valedictorian of her high school class and attended John Brown University in Siloam Springs, ARK. where she graduated magna cum laude. She taught high school for 20 years and was Outstanding Biology teacher of the year for Missouri in 1968.
