Biography: Virginia Welch Christie, age 84, of Little Rock died Sunday, November 4, surrounded by her family. She was born Virginia Ashburn Arnold on Sept. 26, 1923 to Clyde C. and Ila B Arnold of Little Rock who preceded her in death. She attended Rightsell Elementary, Little Rock High School, Little Rock Junior College and the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, from which she graduated with honors in 1944 with a degree in journalism. Virginia was on the staff of the student newspaper, the Arkansas Traveler and, in her senior year, was the business manager for the college annual, the Razorback. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and Phi Alpha Theta honorary society. In 1944, Virginia married her college sweetheart, Morgan E. Welch of Joplin, Missouri, who was then in the United States Army serving as a lieutenant. After residing at various Army bases during the remainder of World War II, Virginia and Morgan settled in Joplin, where they resided until Morgan’s death in 1962. During their lives together in Joplin, they owned a roofing and construction company. Virginia and Morgan had two children, Chip and Leslie, and were active in the First Methodist Church, various social and civic organizations and were founding members of Twin Hills Country Club. After her husband’s death, Virginia returned with her children to Little Rock to be near her parents. She completed additional college training in education and in 1964 began teaching English and sponsored the newspaper at Southwest Junior High School. In 1966, Virginia moved to Hall High School where she would teach journalism and sponsor the War Whoop newspaper and Warrior yearbook for the next 20 years. Her publications and (more importantly for Virginia) her students won numerous Arkansas High School Press Association awards. In 1967, she married Scott Thomas Christie, who was the then Assistant Superintendent of the North Little Rock Public Schools. Tom later was a consultant for Arkansas School Service. He passed away in 1971. Thereafter, Virginia raised her two children alone and put both through college and one through graduate school. Suffice it to say, her son and daughter loved their mother very much and will miss her terribly. Virginia was a member of Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church, Chapter I of P.E.O. Sisterhood, Gilbert Marshall Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), Sigma Delta Chi, professional journalism society, as well as Delta Kappa Gamma, honorary education sorority. She is survived by her son Morgan E. “Chip” Welch and his wife Cheryl of North Little Rock; her daughter, Leslie Virginia Welch Taylor and her husband Tim of Little Rock; her granddaughters, Ashley Welch Hudson and her husband, Cliff; and Morgan Shelby Taylor and Jordan Virginia-Marie Taylor, all of Little Rock. Mrs. Christie is also survived by Cheryl’s son, Rick Martin, whom she loved as well. The family would like to thank the staff and management of Presbyterian Village and Arkansas Hospice for their compassionate care concerning Virginia’s last illness. Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 8, 2007 at Ruebel Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, November 9, at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church officiated by Rev. Victor Nixon. Burial will follow in Roselawn Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church, 4823 Woodlawn, Little Rock, 72205, or the Presbyterian Village Foundation, 510 Brookside Drive, Little Rock, 72205. Funeral arrangements are by Ruebel Funeral Home of Little Rock, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.