Virgina Holt McFarland

A Houston resident for most of her adult life, she always will be remembered for her love of children and her tireless dedication to the organizations benefiting them.

Virginia was devoted to Texas Children’s Hospital where she served on the Board of Trustees for decades and was the hospital’s representative to the National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions for many years. She also fervently supported the mission of the Neuhaus Education Center where she was a Founding Board Member and a Lifetime Trustee. She extended herself in support of multiple organizations, including Children at Risk, The Parish School and The Junior League of Houston. During the early 1990’s, Virginia served on the Board of Directors for the Association of Junior Leagues International. The Junior League of Houston honored Virginia as the first recipient of the Adelaide Lovett Baker Award for community service in 2002 while she was a sustaining member.

Virginia's father was a railroad agent for Southern Pacific. She spent her early years in the small towns of Waelder and Flatonia, which lie between Houston and San Antonio. A classically trained musician, Virginia chose to spend her youth studying violin and performing in Nashville, Chicago and Philadelphia instead of learning to ride a bike or swim.

After many years of practicing violin four or five hours per day, she asked her father if she could attend SMU and have dates as well as go to dances. Her father was thrilled! While at college Virginia did continue to study music, but she also became a Pi Beta Phi. Her sorority sisters were much loved and became lifelong friends. She was a Sweetheart of SMU and, in her later years, honored as a distinguished alumnus of the university. In 1983, Virginia went to the Pi Phi’s to propose founding a library at Texas Children’s Hospital. The library, which opened in 1984, is known as the Pi Beta Phi Patient/Family Library.

Virginia met her husband, Russell, while pursuing graduate work at the University of Texas. Her academic pursuits were interrupted by World War II, and Russell became a Navy pilot upon his graduation. The young couple married in Florida when he was stationed near Jacksonville. While Russell was overseas, Virginia fought her own hard battle against polio, and they suffered the loss of their son, who only lived one day.

By the late 1940’s, Virginia and Russell settled in Houston. In 1952, they built their home in Tanglewood at a time when there still were truck farms in the Post Oak area. They were raising their son, Scott, who developed nephrosis, a kidney disease. His passing led Virginia and her husband to their lifelong commitment to do whatever they could to support the health and happiness of children.

To honor the memory of their seven year old child, they co-founded the Pediatric Metabolic Research Laboratory at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. With the help and direction of their son’s doctor, Charles W. Daeschner, M.D., research was designed to aid all children with metabolic disorders.

Virginia and Russell attended St. Philip Presbyterian Church during the 1950’s and also with their daughter while she was young. “Little Virginia” was baptized there. Russell was a Deacon and sometimes taught Sunday school. Prior to her move to Urbana, Virginia was pleased to rejoin the church she loved during her early years in Houston.

Virginia did not curtail her many activities until it was difficult for her to walk. To the surprise of some, she also loved fly fishing in Colorado, ice hockey games, horses and gardening. She loved the years she was involved with the Garden Club of Houston and the days when she worked at the GCH Bulb & Plant Mart. The past few years, she enjoyed sitting on the porch to admire the spring flowers in Ohio. Although going to events became difficult, in the spring of 2019 Virginia attended both an ice hockey game and the symphony in Columbus, Ohio. Virginia will long be missed by her family, friends, colleagues and community.

Virginia is preceded in death by her parents, William and Scott “Tot” Holt; her dear husband, Russell McFarland; her young son, William Scott McFarland; and an infant son, Russell Stewart McFarland. She is survived by her daughter, Virginia "Ginger" S. McFarland; her son-in-law, Richard J. Oriez; her grandchildren and precious great-grandchildren of the Oriez family; and beloved cousins and relatives among the Chambers, Dickson and Schrutka families in Texas.

A private interment is to be conducted at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston, attended by long-time family friend, Rev. Margaret Desmond.

Arrangements for a private memorial service are pending.

In lieu of the customary remembrances, memorial contributions in Mrs. McFarland’s name may be directed to Texas Children’s Hospital, Office of Philanthropy Suite 5214 (in support of Renal Research), P.O. Box 300630, Houston, Texas, 77230-0630; or to St. Philip Presbyterian Church, 4807 San Felipe Street, Houston, Texas, 77056.