Virginia Elizabeth Folz

Virginia E. Folz, 87, of Houston, Texas, formerly of Marysville, Kansas, passed away Saturday, May 7, 2011 in Houston, Texas where she has resided since 1985. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, August 15, 2011 at the First Baptist Church in Marysville. Burial will be in the Marysville City Cemetery. Virginia was born on August 5, 1923 in Marysville, the daughter of Frank C. and Ethel (Mallonee) Folz. She graduated from Marysville High School in 1941 and then graduated from the University of Nebraska with a B.S. Degree in Economics in 1946. Virginia had a remarkable career in the field of economics. After graduating from college during World War II, she served as a research technician in aeronautical engineering for the Curtis-Wright Company at the University of Texas in Austin, Texas. She then moved to Evanston, Illinois and was employed as program director at the YMCA in charge of young adult activities. She was then hired by Conoco at its headquarters in Ponca City, Oklahoma from 1950 to 1954. Although practically unheard of for women during those days, she compiled production statistics for the oil industry. She was asked once how a female economist was given this job during the 1950's, and she replied, "I just passed the math test they gave me and they needed a clerk in the production department who knew a little math." She continued to work at the headquarters of Connoco for the rest of her career, including periods of time in Houston, Texas, New York City, Wilmington, Delaware and Stamford. Connecticut. She retired from Connoco in 1985 after 35 years of service. She then returned to Houston for her retirement. One of her peers, that also worked at Connoco headquarters for many years made the assertion that she easily would have been an executive at the company if she had been a man during those years. Virginia was a member of the First Baptist Church in Marysville and belonged to Phi Chi Theta, a national honorary business administration sorority. Survivors include her niece, Mary Edna (Folz) Donahue and husband, John, Newton, Mass.; two nephews, Frank Christopher Folz, Bartlesville, Okl., and Thomas James Folz and wife, Lora, Jefferson City, Missouri; three great nieces and seven great nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; and brothers, John Matthew Folz and James Benjamin Folz. Virginia had several close friends and was very close to her two brothers throughout their lives. She held her family very dearly and was very supportive of her niece, nephews, and their families. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Virginia Elizabeth Folz, please visit our flower store.