VANDA LEE BIRD SINGLETON, age 77 years a resident of Elkins, WV departed this life late Saturday evening, June 18, 2011 at her home with her family at her side following a short period of declining health.
She and her twin brother were born Sunday, January 21, 1934 at Weston, WV to Russell Kay and Jocie Pearl Fletcher Bird. She spent most of her childhood growing up in the Walkersville and Ireland, WV Communities. Her parents were both educators and spent their lives teaching children. Vanda Lee followed in the path of her parents and became a school teacher. She was a graduate of Glenville State College and was a dedicated educator for forty-one years in the Randolph County Schools. She will be remembered for her abilities to inspire and motivate her students to become the most that they could be. She was a recipient of the Teacher of the Year Award in 1976 and retired from education at the age of seventy.
On June 12, 1954 at Ireland, WV she was married to Joseph Martin Singleton, who preceded her in death January 7, 1996. In 1956 they had their first son, followed by a daughter in 1960 and another son in 1963. They resided in Weston until 1959 at which time they moved to Elkins. She raised her family here and was proud of their accomplishments. In 1985, her husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and she cared for him at home until it was no longer possible to do so. She was a lovely, nurturing and inspiring wife, mother and friend to all.
Along with being an exceptional school teacher, Vanda was very active in a number of areas of her community. She was a faithful and caring neighbor; caring for all of the people greatly in her neighborhood. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, where she was involved with Circle # 4, the “We Care Group” and taught Sunday school for twenty-five years.
She was also involved in the following organizations, 4-h, National Education Association, Parent Teachers Association, Phi Chapter of the International Teachers Sorority Alpha Delta Kappa, American Association of University Women, and the Randolph County and WV Reading Council.
Preceding her in death besides her parents and husband was her twin brother, Harold Dean Bird.
She leaves behind to cherish her memory three children, Dr. John L. Singleton; Linda D. Mullenax; and Thomas A. Singleton; her children by marriage, Lois Wilson Singleton; Jerry A. Mullenax; and Dale Joe Kelly; three grandchildren, Kyle Wilson; and Joseph Drew Singleton; and Joseph Edward Mullenax; three step grandchildren; John; Thomas; and Lee Mullenax; and a great aunt, Kathleen “Sally” Blake.
The family will receive friends at the Lohr & Barb Funeral Home of Elkins from 6 to 9 PM, Tuesday. Final Rites will be conducted at the funeral home chapel Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 11 AM. The Rev. Barry R. Moll will officiate and interment will follow at the American Legion’s Little Arlington Cemetery at Cravensdale, WV. Vanda’s suggestion was that expressions of sympathy be in the form of contributions to the First United Methodist Church, 315 Kerens Avenue, Elkins, WV 26241, the Alzheimer’s Association, WV Chapter Office, 1111 Lee Street East, Charleston, WV 25301 or to Hospice Care Corporation, 169 Diamond Street, Elkins, WV 26241.
