On September 7, 2024, Virginia Pierce Elderbrock of Kingsport, Tennessee, died.
Virginia was born on August 5, 1933, in Sandusky, Ohio, the daughter of Benjamin L. Pierce and Katherine Erskine Pierce.
She graduated magna cum laude from Bowling Green State University in 1955 with two degrees: a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science in Education with a major in English and minors in History and French. While at BGSU she met William Elderbrock, whom she married on March 25, 1956 in Bowling Green, Ohio.
Virginia had a love of music since she started studying piano when she was 5 years old, and she never gave up her love of playing the piano or her love of teaching piano. She began teaching piano in 1977, and she taught students in both Findlay, Ohio and in Kingsport, TN, where, in 2015, she was selected by the Appalachian Music Teachers Association as their Teacher of the Year.
Virginia also served for two years as President of the AMTA as well as their Auditions Coordinator several times. Even as she was teaching others, she continued to learn, participating in many workshops and taking courses on piano pedagogy and literature at both BGSU and ETSU. In addition, Virginia was also an accomplished organist and served as the guest organist at many churches over the years.
Virginia was a lifelong Presbyterian and also an ordained Presbyterian elder. She was also a member of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls in her youth, a member of the Phi MU sorority in college, and a member of the Girl Scouts and a Girl Scout leader.
Virginia was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Gilbert, and her infant son, Timothy.
She is survived by her husband William, her children David (Tamar) Elderbrock of Blue Mounds, WI; Mark (Dianna) Elderbrock of Wooster, OH; Lisa (Bruce) Rome of Lake Lure, NC; Stephen (Deb) Elderbrock of Bridgeport, WV and her sister-in-law Kathy Pierce of Fostoria, OH. Virginia is also survived by grandchildren Emily (Chris), Eric (Cecilia), Molly (Dave), Evan (Lucy), Betsy (Angus) and Andy (Brooke) as well as step-grandchildren Austin (Alycia), Nicholas, and Kaden, as well as 3 great-grandchildren and numerous nephews and nieces.
Visitation will be held at the Coldren-Crates Funeral HomE in Findlay, Ohio, on Tuesday, September 17, 2024 from 4-7 p.m. with a celebration of life service to be held at the funeral home on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Stephen Elderbrock officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any memorials in Virginia’s memory be directed to Waverly Road Presbyterian Church (1415 Waverly Road, Kingsport, TN 37664) or an organization or charity of your choice.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.coldrencrates.com.
