VIRGINIA R. (MORROW) BLACK

July 1, 1926 - July 1, 2011
SOUTH BEND - Long time educator, author and political activist, Virginia Rose Morrow Black, died on Friday, July 1, 2011, in Sharon, Wisconsin, in the presence of her daughters, after suffering from Alzheimer's Disease for more than a decade. Virginia Rose Morrow was born in Glassport, PA, to Bernard James Morrow and Anna Bernice (Ashton) Morrow on July 1, 1926.

She attended St. Cecilia Grade School and graduated from Saint Peter High School in McKeesport, PA, in 1944 and Seton Hill College in Greensburg, PA, in 1948 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. She taught a fifth grade class for one year before she wed Anthony Robert Black on July 23, 1949, in Glassport, PA, and shortly thereafter moved to married student housing in 'Vetville,' Notre Dame, Indiana, so her husband Anthony could attend graduate school at the University of Notre Dame. She recounts how she obtained her PHT (Put Him Through) degree in her humorous 1985 book, TACKLING NOTRE DAME.

Over the years she taught English and Remedial Reading at John Adams, Washington (1978-85), and Saint Joseph high schools. She was the head of Religious Education at Marian High School from 1972-78 and taught at Studebaker and Pierre Navarre grade schools early in her teaching career. In 1974 she was the Third Congressional District Republican Candidate for Congress running against incumbent John Brademas, losing in the year of Watergate.

She generously volunteered her time for St. Joseph County Right to Life, serving as its president and weekly office helper, aiding many women with crisis pregnancies. Virginia also worked closely as a board member and case worker with the St. Vincent De Paul Society and personally sponsored several families fleeing from war-torn Southeast Asia in the 1970's. She volunteered with the Logan Center and became a legal guardian and advocate for an adult woman with special needs who had no family. Through Virginia's efforts, the woman began to speak-something she had never done until Virginia began spending time with her on a regular basis.

A long time member of Sacred Heart Parish at Notre Dame, Virginia personally purchased and arranged thousands of flowers in the crypt for over 19 years. She was one of the first women to join the U.S.A. Serra International Council. Virginia was well known locally as a controversial contributor to Letters to the Editor in the South Bend Tribune and wrote a weekly column--Snippets and Slivers--for Our Sunday Visitor's Today's Catholic for seven years. Virginia also published articles and poems in The Wanderer and many other newspapers and family magazines. She authored humorous plays such as "Dilemma With Emma", which was produced and performed at St. Mary's College in 1989. Influenced by the poetry of Emily Dickinson and Sister Madeleva, C.S.C., she left a unique legacy of her own poems written for special occasions for her friends, family and colleagues. Her bridge club, started at Vetville, ND, still meets monthly after 55 consecutive years. They welcomed her to sessions long after she had forgotten how to play the game.

Virginia is survived by her children, Stephanie (Terry Williams), of County Sligo, Ireland and Wisconsin, Robert (Cassandra), of Elkridge Maryland, Mary Kay of Sharon, Wisconsin, and Bernard (Kathleen) of South Bend, Indiana, as well as grandchildren: Amanda, Shannon, Alana, Shane, Christopher, Maura, Andrew, Rebecca, Patrick, Clare and Anthony. She was predeceased by her husband, Anthony, in 1997 who was a Professor of History at St. Mary's College-ND for 39 years, infant granddaughter, Andrea, in 1977 and sisters Rita Heatherington and Mary Frances Hester.

Her brother Bernard died shortly after birth. Virginia's spirit will live on in the hearts and deeds of those she helped so tirelessly throughout all her life. In lieu of flowers, donations to The St. Joseph County Right to Life, 320 N. Lafayette Blvd, South Bend, IN 46601 and the St. Vincent De Paul Society would be appreciated. Visitation will be at the Welsheimer Family Funeral Home North at 17033 Cleveland Rd. on Wednesday, July 6th from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Mass of Christian burial will be held at Corpus Christi Catholic Church on Thursday, July 7th, at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Cedar Grove Cemetery at Notre Dame. Family and friends may leave e-mail condolences at www.welsheimer.com.

Published by South Bend Tribune on Jul. 3, 2011.

03/25/2023 EJS

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