Virginia Lee Gleason, daughter of Reverend Nathan Lee Casey and Lulu Madge (Randolph) Casey, was born in Buckhannon, West Virginia in 1923.  Virginia grew up in the warm embrace of a family that included her beloved younger brothers Joseph and Ernest and her grandmother, Margaret Randolph.   In keeping with church policy, Rev. Casey was assigned to a new Methodist church about every four years, so Virginia's family resided in Buckhannon, Charleston, Dunbar, Tunnelton, Wheeling, Pine Grove and Huntington.

Virginia loved reading and excelled in school, graduating as valedictorian from both Pine Grove High School (1941) and West Virginia Wesleyan College (1945). She received a scholarship for post-graduate studies at The Columbia University School of Library Science. After a year of living in New York City, Virginia moved to Evanston, IL to accept a position as college librarian at Northwestern University, where she pursued an MA in English and met the love of her life, George Donald Gleason.

In  1949, Virginia and George were married in Lumberport, West Virginia.  A few months later, the couple moved to San Diego, CA, where George resumed active duty in the Navy at the start of the Korean War.  Virginia continued her career at the San Diego Public Library and gave birth to the couple's first child, Barbara.  In 1952, the couple took up residence in Iowa City, IA, where Virginia gave birth to their second child, Anne, and George completed a PhD in English. The family then settled in Springfield, MO and welcomed the birth of two more children, Victoria and Randy.  While George pursued his academic career at Southwest Missouri State College (now Missouri State University), Virginia developed her career as a professional librarian. She served as head of the children's department at the Springfield Central Public Library and Supervisor of Children's Services for the Springfield-Greene County Public Library.  Virginia advocated for establishing public school libraries, served as Missouri Library Association Chair, authored a syndicated book review column for Penny-Whistle Press, and co-founded both the Missouri Writers Hall of Fame and the Children's Literature Festival of the Ozarks. At age 74, Virginia retired as a librarian and continued an active life for nearly twenty years.

With her husband George, Virginia loved traveling both within the U.S. and to far-off places. The couple traveled to Alaska, Australia, Cameroon, China, England, Egypt, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Tahiti, Tibet and took a trip down the Amazon River. When they arrived back home, they shared their adventures with family members and local organizations. Their legendary travelogues featured Virginia's colorful and exotic photographs.

A long-term member of St. Paul United Methodist Church (now The Downtown Church), Virginia sang in the choir, composed the History of St. Paul United Methodist Church (1983), and established a church library. In recent years, Virginia  enjoyed spending time with family and friends and participating in a Theater Arts Appreciation club, an Out to Lunch group, a book club, and MSU retired faculty events.

Virginia will long be remembered for her rich professional life, warm relations with family and friends, love for the Methodist church, and lifelong support of children's learning and reading.  She is survived by her children (their spouses): Barbara Jo Gleason, Anne Marie Gleason-Roche (Joe), Victoria Lu Gleason, and George Randolph Gleason (Sara); by her grandchildren Ryan Roche (Sylvia), David Gleason (Shea), Susan Gleason, Casey Roche, and Dylan Roche; by her sister-in-law Martha Casey, niece Peggy Moss, and nephew Thomas Casey.

Friends and family are invited to Gorman Scharpf Funeral Home for visitation  on Monday July 10, 2017 from 6 to 8 pm. A funeral service and subsequent reception will be held at The Downtown Church on Tuesday July 11, 2017 at 11am. Interment will follow at Eastlawn Cemetery in Springfield, MO.

In remembrance, friends are invited to contribute to the George and Virginia Gleason Scholarship Fund at Missouri State University (MSU Foundation, 300 S.  Jefferson, Suite 100, Springfield, MO 65806 /417-836-4143) or to The Downtown Church ( 413 E Walnut St, Springfield, MO 65806 /417-866-4326).