Virginia Maxine Quiring
December 21st, 1921 - June 12th, 2026
Callaway-Jones Funeral Home
December 21, 1921 - June 12, 2026
Virginia Maxine Ready Quiring Hannah went to her Heavenly Home on June 12 after
a long and productive life. As a woman who loved and honored God, Virginia was
blessed with an extraordinary life. Throughout her life, Virginia worked in
quiet dedication to serving others. She expressed that dedication through her
love for education and her desire to pass that onto others in her family, her
profession, and her community.Virginia was born on December 21, 1921, in Metz,
MO, and was the daughter of Wesley Milford Ready and Margie Lee Bentley Ready.
Virginia was 104 years old and had been a resident of Arbor Oaks in Bryan, TX
after living most of her life in Kansas.
Virginia lived on a farm her first 12 years, where her loving, caring parents
taught her many skills. At a young age, she learned to ride a pony, drive a team
of horses, and milk a cow. Starting in 3rd grade, Virginia rode her pony,
Shorty, to school. In 4th grade she started violin lessons. Her parents nurtured
her fascination with history. Being college educated, her parents taught
Virginia the value and joy of learning that consumed the rest of her life.
Unfortunately, disaster struck in 1932. Because of financial hardship, the
family lost their farm during the depression when Virginia was only 12.
To pursue a new start, Virginia's family moved to Wichita, KS. There, Virginia
began her early education, graduating from Wichita High School North and Ottawa
University, in Ottawa, KS. Virginia married J. Melvin Quiring on September 30,
1944, in Wichita, KS, and had two children, Jay and Susan. During her family
years, Virginia wanted to expose her children to many learning experiences, so
she became a very involved mother as a Cub Scout Den Mother, a Camp Fire
Guardian, 4-H leader, room mother, Sunday School teacher, and tutor of
neighborhood children. Above all, she wanted her children to understand the
value of life-long learning that included social skills, history, the love of
books, and an appreciation of their family's ancestral history to understand the
origins of their values. Virginia also loved to keep and create traditions and
memories for her children and grandchildren to cherish throughout their lives.
After raising her children and moving to Manhattan, KS, in 1971, Virginia
embarked on a new career, earning master's degrees in Librarianship and in
Educational Administration from Emporia State University. She started her first
job as a cataloger at Kansas State University (KSU) and eventually retired 19
years later as Associate Dean of Libraries.
During those productive years, she published journal articles, edited and/or
compiled four books, studied and implemented the "New Copyright Law", and
selected a rare book in Oxford, England, for the KSU millionth volume. She is
probably best known for organizing and supervising the Friends of KSU Libraries
and planning the first gala that continues today as a "Friends" activity.
Virginia was highly respected by her colleagues. As a result, she was awarded
the 1987 Distinguished Graduate Award from the Emporia State University School
of Library and Information Management, was awarded the 1997 Distinguished
Service Award presented by the College and University Libraries Section of
Kansas Library Association (KLA). In addition, she was active in professional
organizations, serving as Vice President and President of Beta Phi Mu
(International Library Science Honor Society), was Vice President and President
of Kansas Library Association of College and University Libraries Section of the
KLA, and a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International.
After retirement, Virginia continued to be involved in her community, supporting
the Volunteer Tax-Aide Program, KSU Social Club, Manhattan Community Theatre,
and Manhattan Arts Center. She was also the Program Chair and President of Riley
County Historical Society, an active member of First Baptist Church,
establishing her church's library, as well as being a part-time employee of the
Riley County Historical Society and Museum. Virginia also worked in the box
office at the Civic Theatre, Riley County Historical Museum, and established a
library in Haiti on a mission trip.
In 2011, she moved to Bryan/College Station, TX to reside near her daughter,
Susan. Here, Virginia met and married Richard A Hannah, Jr. in 2013. They
enjoyed traveling, dancing, exercise classes, the Brazos Valley Symphony, and
any activity they could do together.
A lifelong learner, Virginia loved books, history, cultural events, and
traveling. Her philosophy of life could be summarized, "To continue to learn is
to continue to live". She continued living a life of learning through reading
and traveling, having visited all 50 states and about 25 foreign countries.
Because of her interest in history, all her trips included not only learning
about the places they visited by perusing museums and seeing historical sites,
but also finding adventures!
Virginia was always dressed to perfection and maintained an impeccable character
and bearing. Her friends saw her as a faithful friend and willing listener.
Always curious, she never shied away from new adventures, was always willing to
try new things and eager to learn more about the world around her.
Virginia was predeceased by her husbands, J. Melvin Quiring and Richard Hannah,
her son, Jay Quiring, and her sister, Irma Shelley. She is survived by her
daughter Susan Quiring of College Station, TX, two grandchildren Jeffery Schmitt
and wife Lora of Boynton Beach, FL and Kimberly Quiring (Topeka, KS), and six
great grandchildren.
Virginia will be interred at Old Mission Cemetery, Wichita, KS. A Visitation and
Service will be held in Tx, June 30. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made
to Riley County Historical Museum, 2309 Claflin Rd., Manhattan, Ks 66502, First
Baptist Church Bryan, TX, or to "Friends of the K-State Libraries". A memorial
for Virginia M. Quiring has been established at the Kansas State University
Foundation. Contributions may be sent to: KSU Foundation, 1800 Kimball Ave., Ste
200, Manhattan, KS 66502, please indicate fund M47530. To make a gift online, go
to www.ksufoundation.org/give/memorials.
Publication date: June 24th, 2026