Virginia Anderson Rust was born on July 11, 1908, in Dayton Texas. She died on Jan. 31, 2010, after a brief illness at the Methodist Manor House in Seaford. Within a year of her birth her parents, Anne and C. C. Anderson, Jr., moved to Lake Arthur, La. When she was 12, they moved to Ripley, TN, where many of her father’s relatives lived.
Virginia earned her B.S. degree in Education from University of Memphis in Memphis, TN (1930) and her Master’s degree from George Peabody College in Nashville, TN (1939). Her first teaching positions were in Moscow, TN, and Chatham, MI. She moved to Laurel to teach at the high school. She also taught in Milford and Millsboro. Her favorite subjects to teach were Latin and English. She retired from Sussex Central Middle School in 1971.
Virginia married Manford C. Rust in 1942. They opened a jewelry and giftware business in Georgetown, DE, around 1950. Besides her teaching and volunteer activities, she helped with the business. After Manford’s death in 1972, she sold the business, but continued to be active in the community. She moved to the Methodist Manor House in 1990.
She was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church and a member of the former Sunshine Class, which she also taught. She co-founded the Georgetown Branch (now Georgetown-Coastal) of the American Association of University Women and served in many capacities, including president. She also served at the state level in AAUW. She was a member of the Georgetown Historical Society, at one time serving as publicity chair.
Since moving to the Manor House, she wrote biographical columns about new residents for the in-house newsletter. She served on the Altar Guild of the chapel and enjoyed the Bible study group. She participated in the fitness center pool program at MMH until she was almost 100 years old. She also assisted in the library and cut stamps from envelopes to raise money for the MMH Benevolent Fund. She liked assembling puzzles and playing bridge with friends.
Virginia was pre-deceased by her parents and her husband. She is survived by her daughter, The Rev. Elizabeth Rust Masterson and husband, Fred, of Newark, DE; her grandson, William Rust Kahl and wife, Sarah, of Baltimore, Md.; her granddaughter, Sarah Kahl Picollelli and husband, Michael, of Newark, DE.
A funeral service will be held at Wesley United Methodist Church, 102 E. Laurel St., Georgetown, Wednesday, Feb. 10, at 11 a.m. Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Virginia’s memory should be sent to Wesley United Methodist Church, 102 E. Laurel St., Georgetown, DE, 19947, or the Methodist Manor House Benevolent Fund, 1001 Middleford Rd., Seaford, DE, 19973.
Arrangements handled by Short Funeral Services, Georgetown.
