Virginia von Bastian

Great memories of Mrs. von Bastian's science class at Fairview High School, Jennings, MO 1966-67. She was an inspiration to me personally.

I will always be indebted to a cohort of dedicated teachers years ago at SCHS, none more so than Virginia von Bastian and her sister, Nina Knight. I hope that I have been able to pass on to my own students the confidence they showed in me. My condolences go to the entire family.

My deepest sympathy to you Carol (you may not even remember me...it has been so many years since my own parents retired back to their own home and I left my hometown St. Charles in 1961. The memories never go away. I remember both Mr. and Mrs. Knight (my favorite classes) with them...Nina was always so nice to me. Our St. Charles Pep Club was so much fun. I still have the last photo of us all before moving the

My deepest sympathy to you Carol (you may not even remember me...it has been so many years since my own parents retired back to their own home and I left my hometown St. Charles in 1961. The memories never go away. I remember both Mr. and Mrs. Knight (my favorite classes) with them...Nina was always so nice to me. Our St. Charles Pep Club was so much fun. I still have the last photo of us all before moving the summer of 1961. So many years ago. Having only two years more in high school with you 'all'....I settled in well in my parents hometown and graduated a senior class officer...so it was good.
I too left a message for Judy Bredenbeck when her mother passed away several years ago. I take a yearbook down every now and then and look through all of them.... and look at them wishing I knew where we all are now....so good to see Judy Mayfield's name here too.
My home was on Elm St. just two or three blocks from Lindenwood College (now University)...when I return to St. Charles I always drive by our home and it is still there (wow).
God bless you Carol at this time. You and your mother were never forgotten by me..
Susan (Neatherry) O'Malley

I was fortunate enough to have studied under Mr. Knight (general science), Mrs. Knight (biology) and Mrs. von Bastian (chemistry) so I went to college both fully armed for advanced science and having felt lucky to simply have known these folks as people. Virginia's death marks the end of an era to me. The neighborhood will never be the same. Good bye, Virginia, and thank you.

I used to tell people that every senior at St. Charles High should take Advanced Chemistry. Virginia, her class, and her science club had a lifelong effect on me. I became a science teacher at St. Charles West, ran a science club, and even received a Knight Science Grant for my students. I will remember Mrs. von Bastian forever.

Carol and family. Please accept my sympathy for the death of your Mother. I remember being with you and your family during our years of growing up and friendship in St. Charles MO when I lived on Kingshighway and you lived on Elm Street.

Judy Mayfield
julery7104@yahoo.com

I can remember going out of Virginia's back yard to sneak across the street to play with my brother and Bob/Carl in the field on the North East side of Elm Street. It's hard to believe that it is no longer Virginia's back yard. Of course the field is long gone, replaced with the Hawthorne shopping center, Duschene HS and lots of houses. Virginia was such a feature in my life for so long it's hard to think of what

I can remember going out of Virginia's back yard to sneak across the street to play with my brother and Bob/Carl in the field on the North East side of Elm Street. It's hard to believe that it is no longer Virginia's back yard. Of course the field is long gone, replaced with the Hawthorne shopping center, Duschene HS and lots of houses. Virginia was such a feature in my life for so long it's hard to think of what to say ... I remember her collecting Indian arrow heads on the farm where she and my mom and Roberta were born ... asking me questions about Astronomy and Astrophysics after I was the family expert in those areas ... and always being concerned about others. I do not believe I ever "came back" to St. Charles without seeing her and wish I had done that more often, but it is not an option now. She will be missed.

Josh & Mary Ann Knight

Will dearly miss Virginia. She and her sisters were an inspiration back in the 60's as a woman educated in the sciences and encouraging her students to pursue those studies.

She was grandmother extraordinaire to Eric von Bastian, who spent many summers in her care, and was able to enjoy the outdoors at the farm. Where else could you find the bones and reconstruct the skeleton of a 'possum? or look for and find bird points. or watch the August meteor showers from the roof of a car in the north 40?

Bye Virginia! You were one of a kind.

I have very fond memories of the times I visited -mostly summers as a very young child, and way too many years ago. I know the sisters were so well connected with each other and that love and link never left them. Rest in Peace.

We'll really miss Aunt Virginia. She was always so good to us and our children, never forgetting a birthday or holiday occasion. She was a brillant mind with such a kind heart.