Virginia Kushner Williams, 77, of the Beechview section of Pittsburgh, formerly of Burgettstown, died Monday, September 20, 1999, in Country Meadows of South Hills, Bridgeville. Mrs. Williams was a 1939 graduate of McKeesport High School and went on to graduate from Duquesne University, with a bachelor's in education in 1943, performing her student teaching in the now closed Fifth Avenue High School in the Hill District. She obtained her master's of education degree from Duquesne in 1974. Starting in the fall of 1943, she started a teaching career in Burgettstown School District. She taught at various times in the kindergarten, elementary and high school level, as well as serving as a guidance counselor. Mrs. Williams was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America and the Duquesne Alumni Council. She served on her local board of elections and was a member of Madonna High School Board. Her hobbies included traveling in Europe and being a fervent fan of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. On August 15, 1946, she married Ernest "Jap" Williams, a Burgettstown resident and a World War II veteran. He died November 7, 1993. Surviving are two daughters, Roberta V. Williams Bagnato of Cleveland, Ohio, and Christine Williams McEntee of Arlington, Va.; a son, Thomas M. Williams of Indianapolis, Ind.; five grandchildren, Joseph Bagnato, Erin and Kelley Williams and Matthew and Brendan McEntee; three sisters, Madeline Belback of Duquesne, Rita Belback of Bloomingdale, Ill., and Catherine Crovak of North Huntingdon. At the request of the deceased, there will be no visitations. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, September 22, at Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church, Burgettstown, with the Rev. Richard J. Tuskey officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Virginia Kushner Williams Endowed Scholarship Fund at Duquesne University. Income from this scholarship will be used to support undergraduate education students. Colleen S. Gaughan, (412) 396-6675, at Duquesne University can be contacted for instructions. Arrangements by Lee and Martin Funeral Home, Burgettstown. Virginia Williams
Burgettstown School District teacher
She was born April 27, 1922, in McKeesport, a daughter of Michael Kushner, a famous local football player of his era, and Virginia Coulter Kushner.