Amanuensis Monday: Virginia Cruvant Zimmerman Sharp (1915-2013) - from Flower Girl to Great Grandmother

Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.

I continue my project to transcribe family letters, journals, newspaper articles, audiotapes, and other historical artifacts. Not only do the documents contain genealogical information, the words breathe life into kin - some I never met - others I see a time in their life before I knew them.

I began this project back on February 16, 2009.  Since I began, many others have joined in on the meme. I am thrilled that this meme I started has inspired so many to transcribe their family history documents. Why do we transcribe? I provide my three reasons in the linked post. You may find others.

This week I look at a newspaper article found in ProQuest's Historical Newspapers' St. Louis Post Dispatch archives through using my local library card. A cousin of my grandfather makes an appearance at the age of four. She passed away earlier this year, one of the last of her generation of descendants of my second great grandfather, Moshe Leyb Cruvant.

---

St. Louis Post Dispatch
March 2, 1919

Social Events

The marriage of Miss Gertrude Loventhal to Joseph Waldman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Waldman, was celebrated last Tuesday evening at Harburger Hall, King's highway and Enright avenue. Misses Elizabeth Waldman and Florence Loventhal were bridesmaids, with Joseph J Cytron best man and William Sokel and Ben Schwartz groomsmen. Little Virginia Ellen Cruvant, the bridegroom's niece, was flower girl. A large reception folowed the ceremony. Among the out-of-town guests were Mr. and Mrs. Morris Hefter and Mr. J. Hefter, Mrs. S. Podolsky and daughter, Bernice, and Mr. and Mrs. J. Gray of Chicago, and Mr. and Mrs. B. Basan of Madisonville, Ky.

Virginia was born on April 19, 1915, so she was a month shy of her 4th birthday. Her parents were Sol and Ida (Waldman) Cruvant. Sol was the youngest brother of my great grandmother, Bertha Cruvant.

***

Virginia passed away on March 15th, 2013, a month shy of her 98th birthday. The following obituary was written by her family. (Note: It was published in more than one newspaper. The below was received from the family, and isn't transcribed from any of the newspapers.)

Virginia Cruvant Zimmerman Sharp, March 15, wife of the late R. Reuben Zimmerman and late Milton I. Sharp, leaves three very-loved sons and daughters-in-law; Stuart (Kathy) Zimmerman, Lon (Judy) Zimmerman, and Jim (Vicky) Zimmerman. She was known affectionately as GeeGee by her six grandchildren, Robert (Mike Mordeson) Zimmerman, Susan (Henry) Jenkins, Pamela (Mike Kimmel) Zimmerman, Craig Zimmerman, Sarah Zimmerman, and Vivian Zimmerman, and three great-grandchildren, Ginny and Sadie Jenkins and Mady Kimmel. She was the daughter of the late Ida (Waldman) and Sol Cruvant, the sister of the late Buddy (Betty) Cruvant, and extended family through marriage to Barb (Bill) Jensen, Ira (Rose Ann) Sharp, Sally Harmon, and Jackie Trimino, and grandmother to their eight children.

She had been an active volunteer her entire life having served twice as President of Miriam #17, and been active and presided over many other charitable organizations in St. Louis and Palm Springs, including being a docent at the Museum of the Desert in Palm Springs. She often said her family was the joy of her life and she loved nothing better than sharing her life with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A celebration of her life will be announced at a later date. If you wish, please send a memorial contribution the Miriam Foundation, 501 Bacon Ave., St. Louis, MO 63119 or to a charity of your choice.

***
Here is a photo taken at the memorial service. The family has asked for it to be shared, and I am pleased to do so.

Top (L-R): Kathy and Stuart Zimmerman, Mike Mordeson (Robert Zimmerman's husband), Vicky Zimmerman (Jim's wife), Craig (Lon and Judy's son), Judy and Lon Zimmerman, Mike Kimmel (Pamela Zimmerman's husband), Hank Jenkins (Susan Zimmerman's husband), Jim Zimmerman

Bottom (L-R): Robert  Zimmerman (Kathy and Stuart's son) Sarah & Vivian Zimmerman (Jim and Vicky's daughters), Susan Jenkins (Kathy & Stuart's daughter), Pamela Zimmerman (Lon and Judy's daughter)

Front (L-R): Sadie and Ginny Jenkins, Mady Kimmel.