In Memoriam Val Adkins July 25, 1947 - May 26, 1998 R.I.P. (Research in Peace)
Val's e-mail signature line:		-- Val [email protected] http://www.granniesworld.com "Be a blessing to everyone who crosses your path" L.W. Huber

While you read about Val and her dedication to genealogy, you might like to listen to one of the following versions of her favorite song, Ode to Joy from Beethoven's 9th Symphony: Version 1, Version 2, Version 3.

Some of Val's Many Contributions to Genealogy

• The Grannies' World
• Conneaut Valley Area Historical Society
  Covering the following areas of Crawford County, Pennsylvania: Conneautville, Springboro, Spring Twp, Beaver Twp, Summerhill Twp.
• PACRAWFO-L Email Discussion List
• Genealogy - The Roots of the Matter
  Val's column for the Meadville Tribune, Crawford Co., Pennsylvania.
• The IMMI-GRAND Mailing List
• The McLAUGHLIN Surname Mailing List
• The NYC-ROOTS Mailing List

Val's Obituary in the Meadville Tribune

Valerie H. Adkins, 50 of 19226 Mulligan Lane, Meadville, died Tuesday, May 26, 1998 at Meadville Medical Center. She was born in the Bronx, NY July 25, 1947. She was adopted by Loren and Maude Hunt Adkins. She graduated from Conneaut Valley High School. She worked as a graphic artist at the Meadville Tribune until she became ill and had since worked as a writer, graphic designer and provider of computer technical support. She published a book on graphic design, a number of articles and short stories. She wrote a nature column for a Maine newspaper and had been writing a genealogy column called Roots of the Matter for The Tribune. She was a member of Unitarian Universalist Church. She also was a former organist, choir director and soloist in churches in Maine and New York City. Survivors include a longtime companion, Mary-Lib Whitney of Meadville; a daughter, Alice Thomas of Saegertown; a step-daughter, Becky; two sons, James Muma of Saegertown and Jack Muma of Georgia. 10 grandchildren; a sister, Charlotte Hanraham of New York; a brother, Kevin Hanraham of New York; several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents. There will be no calling hours. A memorial service will be June 8 at 7:00 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Church, 346 Chestnut Street, Meadville with Josh Searle-White of the church officiating. Burial will be private. Arrangements are under the direction of White-Cool Funeral Home, 1405 Main Street, Conneautville. The family suggests memorials be made to Cancer Services of Crawford County, P. O. Box 1272, Meadville, PA 16335; or Unitarian Universalist Church Organ Fund, 346 Chestnut Street, Meadville. (and left out was the Conneaut Valley Historical Society, 1619 Main Street, Conneautville, PA of which she was one of the charter members and she did all of the items at the web site - http://www/granniesworld.com)

Memories of Val from her friends and cousins on the PACRAWFO-L mailing list for Crawford County, Pennsylvania research:

"She thought of others and of genealogy more than she did of herself." --Jan

"So here is my last note to Val...lady you are a piece of art. God bless you and keep you in the palm of his hand." --Barbara

"Val is the first person I've known totally through e-mail. She was quick on the return message and long on the info. A role model for cybergenealogs. May her life be well documented for the branches to come." --Tirrill

"She was a fine, helpful, lady. She has helped so many to find relatives and given much information & help." --Kay

"Val's enthusiasm for genealogy was contagious. Her giving nature and sense of humor will be missed. She was generosity." --Sue

"We have known her for her great kindness with her online presence and help to us. We are sad that we did not have the opportunity of knowing her in person." --Lois and Pete

"We all will miss her wonderful columns in the "Meadville Tribune" and her constant help she generously gave us. She never hesitated to help and I appreciated her so much." --Nancy

"When I joined Crawford Roots a few months ago as a newbie, I found that many times when I asked a question, a lady named Val Adkins would jump in and give me a helpful answer. I was just pleased and surprised, at first, and then I saw her kindness to many others and realised that she was truly a generous and thoughtful person with a great love for genealogy. A short time ago I visited her Grannies site on the web, and saw her picture and now I feel a real loss. We'll all miss her greatly." --Billie

"We will sorely miss her!!! May she go on to a much better and higher life." --Patti

"She will be sorely missed by all of us. But, I can see her now greeting all of those ancestors she's been talking about for years. I will miss her a great deal." --her cousin, Pat

"<<She will be sorely missed by all of us. But, I can see her now greeting all of those ancestors she's been talking about for years.>>
Roger that!!! Also I'll bet that she is setting some of them right for not leaving more tracks to follow." --Jerry

"I love the last comment - and I can just see Val doing it. Gently and with humor, of course - always with humor. She could brighten the darkest day. I know that she spent many hours doing cemetery transcriptions and did the website for Conneaut Valley and wrote a genealogy column for the local newspaper and had written book about her lines and that sort of thing, and I know that she was one heck of a fine genealogist whose work was totally validated, and I know that she was one heck of a fine person whose friendship I treasured." --Carol

"She was truly a person dedicated to genealogy in Crawford Co. and would often email me to let me know she had found Proctors listed on a census or cemetary index she was typing for the web site." --Debra

"Val was an inspiration to so many people! I like to imagine that she is helping us from the other side now." --Doris

Donations can be made in Val's name to any of the following:

	Cancer Services of Crawford County P.O. Box 1272 Meadville, PA 16335		Unitarian Universalist Church Organ Fund Unitarian Universalist Church of Meadville 346 Chestnut Street Meadville, PA 16335 (814) 724-4023
	Conneaut Valley Area Historical Society P.O. Box 266 Conneautville, PA 16406		RootsWeb Genealogical Data Cooperative P.O. Box 6798 Frazier Park, CA 93222-6798