Ilion High School - Class of 1887

The Evening Telegram - March 10, 1952

Ilion Musical Director Dies

Article 5

Ilion Musical Director Dies

Ilion - Miss Adela VanGumster, 83, past president of the Music Teachers Association and well known in Mohawk Valley music circles, died Saturday in her home, 40 W. Clark St., after a brief illness.

She was born in Ilion on April 9, 1869, a daughter of John and Margaret McCann VanGumster, and was valedictorian of the Ilion High School Class in 1887. She graduated from the Utica Conservatory of Music and taught piano and harmony in Ilion for 62 years.

Miss VanGuster was an honorary member of the B Sharp Music Club serving for a time as chorus director. She also trained choirs for two music festivals directed by Walter Damrosch and was past choral direcotr of the Monday Music Club. She was also musical director for the Ilion Presbyterian Church for 33 years.

She leaves several cousins.

Funeral services will be conducted at 9:30 a. m. tomorrow from the home and at 10 a.m. from the Church of the Annunciation with a solemn high mass. Interment will be in Armory Hill Cemetery.