WALKER, ANNA VIRGINIA SANSOM (1912~2005) Anna Virginia Sansom Walker, wife of Ruel Carlisle Walker, associate justice of the Supreme Court of Texas, was born May 13, 1912, to Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Sansom. Growing up in Plainview, Texas, Virginia began college as an art major at the College of Industrial Arts, now Texas Women's University in Denton, Texas, and later attended the University of Texas at Austin where she joined Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. Virginia and Ruel C. Walker married in 1935, and made their home in Cleburne, Texas, where Ruel practiced law in the firm of Walker & Baker with his father, William Ruel Walker, and his cousin, Willard Baker. In 1954, when Ruel was appointed to the Supreme Court of Texas, the family moved to Austin.
Virginia was an active member for many years in University United Methodist Church and later in University Presbyterian Church. She also belonged to the Settlement Home, the State Official Ladies' Club, the Art Club of Austin, and the P.E.O. She participated in Meals on Wheels and served as a docent for the Huntington Art Gallery and on the boards of directors of community organizations, including the YWCA, the Wesley Foundation, and Laguna Gloria Art Museum. Virginia said it was her goal to live joyfully and in harmony with all God's creations, to the glory of God and the good of her fellow man.
In 1928 when she was sixteen, she began designing her own Christmas cards to send to friends and family. Each year's design and message has reached more and more people, who write to tell her what her cards mean to them and how they look forward to receiving them each year. Last week she composed the message for this year's card.
Virginia loved nature, and whenever she saw the sky said to whoever was near, "that's the most beautiful sky I've ever seen." Throughout her long life, she inspired people of all ages and saw her death as continuing her journey of expanding in oneness with all creation.
Anna Virginia Sansom Walker departed what she called her beloved Planet Earth on July 3, 2005, at the age of 93, and was buried next to her husband at the Texas State Cemetery four days later. She is survived by her children, Virginia Carmichael, Dexter and Sara Beth Peacock, and William Ruel Walker, and numerous grandchildren, step grandchildren, great grandchildren, and grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
Information taken from the Austin American-Statesman on July 5, 2005. |
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