M. Virginia Barclay

Virginia Barclay, 88, died Friday, March 17, 2006, at Mercy Hospital, Iowa City. A family service will be held today at Oak Ridge Cemetery, West Liberty. The family is planning a celebration in memory of Virginia and Bob's lives together in the near future. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Robert and Virginia Barclay Memorial Scholarship fund at the Superintendent's Office, West Liberty Community School District, 203 E. Seventh St., West Liberty, IA 52776, in care of Joy Burr or a local Hospice Care facility to provide support services for those with life ending illnesses. Mrs. Barclay was born Sept. 27, 1917, in Washington, Iowa, the daughter of George and Nell Breitenbach. She married the love of her life, Robert Barclay, in 1938. She and her husband shared a strong commitment to make a difference in the lives of others. As a partnership, they were involved in a variety of community initiatives, service organizations and behind the scenes support for members of their community. T.T.T. (women's organization), Methodist Church/Youth Group Leadership, Women's Club, support for their public schools, the West Liberty Community Center project, the Robert ...[more]

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Virginia Barclay Scholarship Fund for local college bound students, support for the NAACP, funding initiatives for the West Liberty Public Library Fund, the Fire Rescue Unit and anonymous support for needy families are a few illustrations. On a more informal level, through the years, young people and adults in the area community often looked to this generous, dynamic, unassuming couple for advice and support. For all of these reasons, the Barclay home was Grand Central Station for young people - a nurturing, fun place for groups to congregate. Her other passions and talents included working in her flower garden, managing continuous animal "rescue missions", laughing around the bridge table and even following the Minnesota Twins across the country in support of her husband's sports passion. Most importantly, she loved her family. She made numerous personal sacrifices, always doing whatever was necessary to act in the best interest of her daughters and her grandson by supporting their individual activities and passions - from their "crazy kid schemes" to their attempts to lead purposeful lives as adults. The lives of her immediate and extended community family have been deeply enriched by her compassionate, loving touch. Survivors include two daughters, Jan Dowden and husband Jerry of Madison, Wis., and Susan Cerny and husband Rick of Iowa City; a grandson, Scott Cerny and wife Amy of Chicago, Ill.; and brothers-in-law, Charles Barclay of Vicksburg, Mich., and Alan Barclay and wife Mary of Surprise, Ariz.