Virginia Isley, 97, most recently of Columbia, SC, but a longtime resident of Crown Point, Indiana, passed away on January 1, 2016. Virginia had a long, fruitful, and accomplished life, and her sunny disposition and unflagging energy were always evident to the benefit of her friends, family, students, caregivers, and church.

She was born on a farm in Clinton County, Indiana, to Waldo and Mary Milner Waddell, and attended Ball State University where she earned her teaching certificate. She married Charles Isley in December of 1942, and their marriage lasted 57 years until Charles’ death in 2000. Both worked for many years in the Crown Point schools, with Virginia mostly teaching her favorite, fourth grade, before she retired in 1984. She subsequently worked for the Crown Point Public Library, and was a longtime member of (and baked hundreds of cherry pies for) the Psi Iota Xi sorority. She served as an elder at First Presbyterian Church, and for many years enjoyed delivering dinners for Meals on Wheels.

She was predeceased by her brothers, Howard and Bill Waddell, and her sister, Patricia McCreary. She is survived by her daughter, Jane (William) Thesing of Columbia; son, John (Patricia) Isley of Wellesley, MA; and three grandchildren, Amy (Thesing) Schad, Alexandra Isley, and Calvin Isley.

Memorial services will be held on Thursday, January 14, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church (218 S. Court St., Crown Point, IN) with the Rev. David Wood officiating. Burial and Committal will occur at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 15, 2016 at the St. George Lutheran Cemetery in Edinburgh, IN.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred, in the form of donations, to the Charles and Virginia Isley Endowment Fund (supporting the Crown Point schools) of the Crown Point Community Foundation, P.O. Box 522, Crown Point, IN 46308, or the First Presbyterian Church, 218 S. Court St., Crown Point, IN 46307. Pruzin & Little Funeral and Cremation Service in charge of arrangements.