Virginia Juanita Radeleff

1919 - 2025

Virginia Juanita Radeleff

Out of the vault tumbles decades of history of a well known and well respected life.

The last page of the long and illustrious story of Virginia Juanita Radeleff was completed on January 26, 2025. Born 105 years ago in Porterville, California to Bill Radeleff and Juanita Clatterbuck Radeleff, she was brought home to Springville, California where she lived and taught school the rest of her life.

Soon to follow were her brothers Bob and Stan Radeleff, completing the family she loved and cherished so well.

Virginia completed the first through eighth grades in Springville. She attended Porterville High School, graduating in 1936, and going on to two years of junior college there. Transferring to the University of California at Berkeley, she majored in History and English, graduating with honors in 1941.While waiting for a teaching position to open up back home, she lived in Southern California and worked at what was then, North American Aviation. She enjoyed exploring the area, visiting libraries and museums.

Returning to Springville in 1943, she began a teaching career which lasted until 1995. In the summers, Virginia did post-graduate work at UCLA, along with traveling to different lands. She was an adventurous spirit-active in Campfire Girls; as a Sunday school teacher; telephone operator; member of local Civil Air Patrol; volunteer Tulare County Sheriff; hometown chorus; scholarships chairman, sorority sister- and always a leader.

She loved family, longterm friendships, and holidays and celebrations. She always enjoyed making new discoveries, whether she was exploring the local historical sites or traveling the world; but wherever her adventures took her, she always returned to her special home of Springville where her delight was to work in her gardens.

Learning, questioning and teaching was her passion all of her life.

Virginia was a member of many community organizations and her retirement decades were dedicated to founding the Tule River History Society and building the Springville Historical Museum, which she worked on for over thirty years. Above all she loved and honored family and legacy, and especially the students that she taught.

Virginia's long and illustrious life deserves a grand celebration! She will be honored on March 13, 2025 at the Springville Memorial Hall. The ceremony will begin at 11:00am with lunch to follow at noon, served by the Lions Club, Womens Club and Community Club. This celebration marking the anniversary of her birth will be in her beloved Springville, at the hall where she enjoyed so many gatherings.

Her life which began on March 13, 1919 will be celebrated on what would have been her 106th birthday, at the scene, and with the friends she loved so well: A final fond hometown farewell to a Springville legend.