Maxine Virden

Maxine Ferrell Virden went to be with our Lord Thursday afternoon, May 12th, 2010 of natural causes. She was known for her optimistic view of life and her artistic talents. She was a supporter of various charities for children and the hearing impaired. Born in Webster City, Iowa in July 1916 to Maye Ado Thompson and Walter Jason Roger Ferrell, she attended grade schools in Des Moines, Iowa as well as Roosevelt High School. Upon graduation as a Phi Beta Kappa from Iowa State where she was an active member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority and majored in art and design, her first job was designing covers for children's books. However, she then went back to school for a degree in Occupational Therapy and made a career at the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa as Chief of the Occupational Therapy Department until retirement. She married Robert Miles Virden in 1954. They enjoyed over thirty years together until his death from pancreatic cancer. They had many wonderful trips around the world and across the U.S. Sewing various holiday decorations and clothing occupied many of Maxine's days at home. Maxine is survived by her niece, Carolyn Stewart-Prinzing of Frenchtown, Montana; nephew, Steven W Dockstader of Peachtree City, Georgia; grandnephews, Chad and Dirk Stewart of Alamagordo, New Mexico and their four children; grandnephew, Byron T Dockstader of Atlanta, Georgia and grandniece, Heather D Dockstader of Hamilton, New York. Graveside service is scheduled for 8:30 am Monday, May 17, 2010 at the Graceland Cemetery in Webster City, Iowa. Memorials may be sent to Macular Degeneration Research or Hearing Impaired support groups