Virginia Lee Krenn, 87, passed away November 19, 2024, at Southern Oaks Care Center in Pawnee with the care and support of Elara Caring Hospice.


A rosary and viewing will be held on November 21, 2024, at Strode Funeral Home at 6:30 p.m., by Deacon Tom Cabeen. Public viewing will be available at 4:30pm. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Pawhuska at 10:30 a.m. on November, 22, 2024, with Father Emmanuel Nduka as the principal celebrant. Interment will follow at the Pawhuska Cemetery, where Virginia will be buried near her "Mommy," the last person she called out for in the end. A luncheon will follow after burial at the Pawhuska Dining Hall. Strode Funeral Home and Cremation is in charge of the arrangements.

Early Life and Education

Virginia was born August 1, 1937 at 1501 ½ S. 7th St. in Ponca City, Oklahoma to Emmet Keen Carson of San Antonio, TX, and Adelia Anna Grof of Pawhuska, OK. She spent her early years in Ponca City where her father owned and operated Carson Radio Lab Repair. The family moved to Pawhuska in 1942, where her father opened a Mobile Radio Repair business in their home located at 1421 Ruble.


Virginia attended Immaculate Conception School in Pawhuska from 1943 to 1951, and Pawhuska High School from 1951 to 1953. In 1957, she earned her High School Diploma from The American School in Chicago, Illinois. She went on to earn an Associate Degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from Northern Oklahoma Junior College in 1964 and a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics, Science and Education from Oklahoma State University in 1966.

Career

Upon graduation, Virginia began working as a computer programmer for Sunray-DX Oil Company in Tulsa. She moved to Continental Oil Company in Ponca City where she became a Systems Analyst and converted all programs to COBOL.
In 1970, she earned a Mathematics and Science Teaching Certificate from Oklahoma State University and taught Jr. High Modern Math at Arkansas City, KS, Jr. High School, until 1978. Virginia then began working as a programmer for Equity Insurance Corporation in Blackwell, OK. In 1979, she moved to Stillwater to work on a Master's Degree in Computer Science, at OSU, earning 20 credit hours. During this time, she also served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for Fortran for three semesters. She accepted a position with the OSU Computer Department, located in Whitehurst, as a Systems Analyst Programmer and later became a Technical Information Support Specialist for Client Services. Virginia also completed two years of equivalent programming courses in Cobol, Fortran, RPGI and RPGII from LaSalle University in Chicago, Illinois. Not only did she digitize the entire OSU Edmon Library via PETE system, Virginia retired in 1997 as the very first Oklahoma State University WebMaster, marking the end of a distinguished career in the computer industry.

Personal Life

Virginia married Andrew Lloyd "Mickey" Holt on September 10, 1953 and divorced in 1961. She is survived by their three children: Daniel Lloyd Holt and wife Suna of Stillwater, OK; Deborah Ann Johnson of Ponca City; and Doris Arlene Al-Harake and husband Dr. Mounzer "Manny" Al-Harake, of Stillwater.
On, March 22, 1967, she married Stephen Tracy Krenn and they divorced in December 1976. She is survived by their son, Tony Joseph Krenn of Stillwater.

Virginia was a member of Intertel (the top 1% of Mensa Members) and a lifetime member of Mensa. She enjoyed traveling, painting, playing piano, fine cuisine, cultural activities, and attending various performing arts productions. She was also a season ticket holder of the OSU HRAD Distinguished Chef's Dinner series, where she was honored and awarded in 2009 for her long-term participation.

Survivors and Preceded in Death

Virginia was predeceased by her parents, her brother Gary Edward Carson of Pawhuska, her grandson Christopher Ray Jackson of Ponca City, her son-in-law, Ronald Eugene Johnson of Ponca City and brother-in-law Thomas Wayland Smith Jr. of Pawhuska.
She is survived by her sister Joanne Eleanor Smith of Collinsville, OK; her brother David Alan Carson and wife Betty of Stillwater; and her children.


Virginia's surviving grandchildren include Kimberly Ann Holt, Karen Arlene Holt Keim-Stillwater and husband Timothy Keim, Derek Kane Jackson-Ponca City, Jamilah Adelia Kawtharani and husband Mohamad Kawtharani - Stillwater, Jacqueline Arlene Williams and husband Dr. Riley Williams II - Edmond, Angela Marie Cook-Ripley, and Justin Lee Cook - Ponca City. She also leaves behind great-grandchildren Myles Alexander, Calvin Isaiah, Elli Rose, Lila Mariah, Annabela Rae Wulitich - Stillwater; Grace Arista, Ava Elise, and Aaron Matthew Keim-Stillwater; Kaydee Marie Jackson-Windom-Stillwater, Benjamin Lee Jackson-Ponca City, Raygan Jeanne Jackson-Tulsa and Blake Isaac Lawson-McAlester; Riley James Williams III and Madeleine Elizabeth Williams-Edmond; and Abraham Mounzer Kawtharani-Stillwater. She is also survived by nieces Sue Johnson-Tulsa OK; Teresa Carson-Pautrot-St. Louis, MO and nephews David Shields-Derby, Kansas; Mitchell Carson- Cincinnati, Ohio and Brian Carson Belle Plaine, Kansas.


Final Thoughts

Virginia was a woman of uncommon concern for others, with great humor, intelligence, and formidable accomplishments, especially as a single working mother in the computer industry during the 1960s through the 1990s. Her children remember her as always being there for them and offering wisdom, as reflected in her memorable words: "I would like to be remembered by my children, that I was always there for them and I always will be with them in spirit." To her daughters, "Whenever You Feel Overwhelmed...Remember Whose Daughter You Are and Straighten Your Crown."


Thank you to all the staff and employees of St. Anne's in Oklahoma City, and Primrose and Golden Oaks in Stillwater, where she resided at different times.


Special Love to her niece, Sue Johnson, they loved and understood each other to the ends of the Earth.


Pall Bearers will be Mounzer Al-Harake, Justin Cook, Derek Jackson, Dave Johnson, Tony Krenn, Mohamad Kawtharani, Ace Mekina and Riley Williams II.


In honor of our mother, Grandma, Great-Grandma, please wear a token of your favorite shade of pink to her services.