Virginia Flaherty

Virginia Purvis Flaherty, women’s and feature page editor of the Baltimore Sun, age 81, of Woodbine, died Tuesday, August 17, 2010, died at her home near Daisy, Maryland. She was born July 20, 1929 in Philadelphia, PA the daughter of the late James Purvis and the late Clara Craddock Purvis. She was the wife of Hugh E. Flaherty. Ms Flaherty served at the editor of the Sun’s women’s and feature page from 1954 until 1960 when she married former Sun reporter Hugh E. Flaherty and started raising a family. Prior to joining the Sun, she worked for two magazines- Etude and the Ladies Home Journal- in Philadelphia after her graduation from the University of Pennsylvania with highest honors in 1952. In the 1960’s she worked as a volunteer for Governor Raymond P. Shafer during his term of office in Pennsylvania from 1967 until 1971, She was active in efforts to establish public education programs for learning disabled children, including establishment of the New Day School in Harrisburg and passage of the first public programs for children with learning disabilities. She was a former member of the vestry at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Poplar Springs. Ms Flaherty is survived by her husband, Hugh, three sons, David and Christopher of Woodbine and Brendan of Sykesville; two daughters-in-law, Dianne and Mary Flaherty, seven grandchildren and a great granddaughter. Funeral Services are private. Memorial Contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society, 1393 Progress Way, Suite 908, Eldersburg, MD 21784.
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