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.