Virginia Nell Nolen

She was born on September 21, 1921 in Rhea, Arkansas, Washington County, to Albert Vane Pasley and Rella Mae Henderson Pasley. She married Thomas Edward Nolen on July 3, 1948. He preceded her in death on August 27, 2007.

She retired from the Mid-Del School System, where she worked as a middle school librarian at Jarman Junior High School, Midwest City, Oklahoma. In her honor, the school named the library after her.

Survivors include three daughters: Nola Nolen of Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania; Nancy Kirschbaum of Charlotte, North Carolina; Nikki Nolen of Los Angeles, California; four grandchildren, Cara Wyatt, Angeliki Koutsouflakis, Grace Campoll, and Hope Koutsouflakis; and two great-grandsons, Tison Wyatt and Nolan Campoll. She was preceded in death by her husband, daughter Katherine Elizabeth, and grandson Shawn Kirshbaum.

“Ginny” was born and raised on her parents 250-acre farm in northwestern Arkansas and graduated from Prairie Grove High School. While attending the University of Arkansas, she obtained her pilot’s license aspiring to emulate Ameilia Earhart. During WWII, she completed her undergraduate degree at Tulsa University and worked the night shift at the Tulsa, Oklahoma Douglas Aircraft Plant. A Braniff Airlines secretarial position took her to Oklahoma City, where she met husband Tom at a church dance. Together, they traveled the Caribbean and South America. With her husband, she raised independent, artistic daughters. She designed and constructed their wardrobes in their early years, having studied clothing design at UA. While working as a substitute teacher, the Monroney Junior High School principal asked her to serve as the librarian. She entered graduate school studying library science at the University of Oklahoma. Later in life, she was an avid reader who also loved music, particularly the band Brace Combo. Her family was central to her activities. Through her innate curiosity and love of learning, she maintained her mental acumen throughout her life, and a people frequently commented on her youthful appearance, even at age 95.

On Thursday, June 15th, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., family will receive friends at the Bill Eisenhour Funeral Home, 5005 S.E. 29th Street in Del City, Oklahoma, 73115.

The funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 16 at the Del City Christian Church, 4340 S.E. 15th, Del City, Oklahoma 73115. Interment will be in Sunny Lane Cemetery, 4000 S.E. 29th Street, Del City, Oklahoma 73115.

On Saturday, June 24th beginning at 12:30 p.m., family will receive friends at the Smith Funeral Home, 421 New Castle Street, Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, 16057. Shared reflections will begin at 2:00 p.m.

Arrangements under the direction of Bill Eisenhour Funeral Home, Del City, Oklahoma.