Rusk, Thelma Weiler

Thelma Weiler Rusk, 85, of Blacksburg, died Tuesday, March 20, 2007, at Kroontje Health Care Center. She was born in Boonville, N.Y. on February 3, 1921 to the late Raymond Jackson and Gladys Whiter Weiler and was also preceded in death by a brother, Keith Weiler.

She graduated from Blacksburg High School class of 1938. She graduated from Virginia Tech in 1942 in Home Economics and in 1949 she received her bachelors degree in Library Science from Syracuse University.

During World War II she was a Technician at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant. She was a professional librarian at Virginia Tech as head in the Biological Sciences Division. Shortly after her marriage in 1960, her sister-in-law died, her brother’s three small children made their home with her. Berta and Jeff grew up in Blacksburg and Kim later returned to Gadsden, Alabama to live with her father.

She was active in civic affairs being president of the Blacksburg Branch of America Association of University Women, Home Economics in Homemaking, Mountain View Garden Club and the local Church Women United. She was active in the Girl Scouts as a teenager and an adult, being the troop leader of Troop 229. She was also a member of the Creative Homemakers Club.

Her religious activities at the Blacksburg Presbyterian Church including being an elder, deacon, church librarian (40 years), a member of the Tuesday Morning prayer group and president of the local Presbyterian Women. She also enjoyed being a Docent at the Smithfield Plantation.

She is survived by her husband, Richard W. Rusk, of Blacksburg; nieces, Kimberly Weiler, of Gadsden, Ala., Alberta Weiler Shoulders and her husband, Robert, of Santa Rosa, Calif.; nephew, Jeffrey Weiler, of Las Vegas, Nev.; six great-nieces and nephew; cousin, Roderick W. Young, of Blacksburg.

Graveside services will be conducted Saturday, March 24, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. in Westview Cemetery. Memorial services will be conducted Saturday at 11 a.m. in the Blacksburg Presbyterian Church, 701 Church Street with the Rev. Alex Evans officiating. Fellowship with the family will be in the Fellowship Hall immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Blacksburg Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 144, Blacksburg, Va. 24063.

Arrangements by McCoy Funeral Home, 150 Country Club Drive, Blacksburg.