On the go
Story by Wendy Gabbe, photos by
Virginia Murray is not your typical 91-year-old. Although she does
enjoy such conventional activities as reading and planting flowers in her
backyard, what is truly remarkable is the time and energy she devotes to
giving back to the community.
“I enjoy volunteering thoroughly,” she said. “I like getting out and
meeting people. Besides, it’s a good reason to get up and get going.”
Murray is in her eighth year volunteering at the Huntington Beach
Central Library. As the main overseer of library membership applications,
her duties consist largely of clerical work. She drives herself to the
library each week, usually on Tuesdays, and volunteers about five hours
handling paperwork and sometimes shelving books.
Murray began working at the library shortly after her husband passed
away. Finding that she had free time and energy, she took a friend’s
advice, who mentioned volunteering at the library. It wasn’t a hard
decision to make, as Murray’s love of books could soon be fully realized.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for me to see new books and magazines,”
she said. “I love reading and so it’s a great place to work.”
As a 40-year resident of Huntington Beach and former clerical worker
with the Huntington Beach Union High School District, the library
position seemed to be a perfect fit.
“I take the work very seriously,” she said. “I’m always worried about
it.”
And she knows the value of volunteers at the library, which she said
wouldn’t function well without them.
“They are very dedicated people,” she added.
But Murray’s volunteering does not stop at the library. For most of
her years in Huntington Beach, during election time she has walked
neighborhoods, handing out political pamphlets and other material. When
it is not election time, Murray stays in shape walking 1 1/2 miles in
Westminster Mall every morning. Murray has also acted as the secretary
of the National Assn. of Retired Federal Employees’ local chapter for 14
years. Her husband, the late Logan Murray, worked for the Department of
Labor and the two joined the organization in 1975. Murray continues to
take the minutes at weekly meetings she holds at her house.
She said she enjoys keeping busy with all of her activities and feels
blessed by the good health she maintains.
“As long as I can drive I’ll volunteer at the library,” she said.
“After that, as long as I can walk I will deliver election material.”
Last year she got her license renewed until her 95th birthday.
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