Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1917-01-18

orrhage, Mrs. Virginia E. Wanless
Brunson died December %, 1916,
at her home, 105 East Fifteenth
street, New York. For more than a
year she had suffered somewhat
from heart trouble Chronic inter-
stitial myocarditis) but her acute
illness had lasted only six weeks.
The stroke which came about noon
December 90. caused an immediate
paralysis of the right side and loss
of speech and later complete I'M
consciousness. From this she did not
recover
The maiden name of the deceased
was Virginia Emma Smith. She was
born of Scotch parents, January 81,
1915, in Petersburg, Virginia, now
West Virginia. In that state she liy-
ed much of her early life, received
her education and became a school
teacher There she met John Wan
less, farmer, to whom she was mar
ried July 10, 1871, while she was
teaching in Leavenworth, Kansas.
They lived on their farm in Hayes
township about eight miles north
east of Abilene They were the lead
ing spirits in the organization of
"The Harmony Union Sunday School"
the services of which were held for
more than ten years in their district
school. One child, Richard, was born
of this union, After the death of
John Wanless, September 10, 1874,
his widow taught school in Dickin-
son county and again in Leayen-
worth Kansas.
December 25, 1888, she was there
married to Edward Brunson, and
they lived on the sheep ranch of
which Horseshoe Bend was part
and later in Solomon. The deceased
was faithful to her church duties
here also and taught in the Sabbath
school e. Bruce Brunson was the
only child born of this union After
the death August 6, 1890, of Post
master Edward Brunson, his widow
was appointed postmistress of Solo
mon and served in that capacity I
until 1895. To make home for her |
sons and herself she lived success
siyely in Kansas City and Kirksville,
Mo. and FL Paso Texas. In 1901 she
moved to Geneva, New York There,
in addition to her customary church
luties she was the leader of a large
Bible class and one of the
of a literary club which
S still active In 1908 she moved to
New York. There too she did her full
luty to her church and made her 4
)wn place in the various organiza
ions thereof. She did this in spite
If the fact that she was a stranger
o everyone, except her own son, in
conservative church in a great
ity. She had for years been intense
Y interested in the causes of tenn
,erance and woman suffrage, and
vas greatly delighted with the
,rowing strength of both movements.
The was alert and keenly interested
n current events to the time she
vas stricken with apoplexy.
Services were held in the chapel
# her own church, the Madison
square Presbyterian, December 80,
)r Charles II. Parkhurst, the min
ster, officiating. In sympathy with
Jews of her own the body was Gre
mated. The ashes were buried next
0 the grave of John Wanless in the
,bilene cemetery.
Mrs Brunson is survived by two
ons: Dr. Richard Wanless. an os-
eopathic physician, 347 Fifth Ave,
Jew York, and f. Bruce Brunson.
lrmer. Abilene. The following chill
rem of Edward Brunson by a pre-
ious marriage also survive her:
Irs. Herbt r. Jones. Victor, Colo; /
Ir. Amos f. Brunson. railroad en-
ineer, Denver, Colo, and Mr.. How
NJ. Brunson. with Armour & Co.
/ Kansas City, Mo. s*@
CHAPMAN