Margaret Burleson Crumley, 97, of Bristol, Va., died on Monday, September 12, 2011. She was predeceased by her husband, Samuel Howard Crumley; and her parents, Commodore Vanderbilt and Mary Gillam Burleson, of Morganton, N.C. She was also preceded in death by sisters, Mary Louise Burleson and Georgia Burleson Bailey; and brother, Gillam Burleson. Margaret is survived by her daughter, Mary Beth Crumley Stampler and husband, Bill, of Marietta, Ga.; her son, Jim Crumley and wife, Sherry, of Buchanan, Va.; her brother, Charles V. Burleson and wife, Jeanne, of Morganton, N.C.; her sister, Pat Howell and husband, Jack, of Morganton, N.C.; her sister, Elaine Clarke and husband, Bob, of Lynchburg, Va.; her sister-in-law, Helen Burleson, of Henderson, N.C.; her grandchildren, Sara Stampler Underwood and husband, Jimmy, of Marietta, Ga., Craig Simpson and wife, Tracy, of Atlantic Beach, N.C., and Chris Simpson and wife, Stacey, of Fuquay-Varina, N.C.; great-grandchildren, Amy, Emily, Corey, Katherine and Caroline Simpson; and 22 nieces and nephews.
Margaret came to Bristol from Morganton, N.C., in 1931, to attend Virginia Intermont College (VIC), and graduated in 1933. She was secretary to the president of VIC from 1932 to 1944; Registrar of VIC from 1944 to 1953; Secretary of Admissions of VIC from 1954 to 1964; and Director of Admissions of VIC from 1965 until her retirement in 1981. In 1960 she was VIC Alumna of the Year. She received the VIC Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994. Through her travels for VIC she enjoyed friendships all over the world, and she will always be remembered for her wonderful rapport with VIC alumnae and students.
Margaret was also a very gifted artist and enjoyed many years with her artistic crafts. She became locally famous for her hand made and painted "little people."
The family extends a special thanks to Karen Bierer and to the staff of Bethel Ridge Assisted Living, Fincastle, Va., for their loving care and compassion.
The family will receive friends on Friday, September 16, 2011, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in the Worrell Fine Arts Center on the campus of Virginia Intermont College, Moore Street, Bristol, Va. A Celebration of Margaret's Life will be conducted by Dr. Robert Rainwater at 2:30 p.m. in Trayer Theater at the Worrell Fine Arts Center.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Margaret B. Crumley Scholarship Fund, Virginia Intermont College, 1013 Moore Street, Bristol, VA 24201.
Arrangements by Botetourt Funeral Home, Buchanan, Va.
Published in Roanoke Times on September 14, 2011