Virginia Tieken

Virginia June Frances Lee Glasby Tieken passed away peacefully on December 6, 2025, surrounded by family and wrapped in deep love. Born in 1933 in Hong Kong, B.C.C., she was the first-born daughter of Ellen Field of Shanghai, China, and Frank Lee of Liverpool, England.

June’s remarkable life began in Hong Kong, where she spent her early childhood alongside her younger sisters. Together, they endured internment in a war camp during World War II—an experience that shaped June’s lifelong resilience, grace, and strength. After the war, she lived briefly in Macao and San Francisco before returning to Hong Kong to attend King George V High School.

Independent and adventurous, June became one of the first women to work in the airline industry with Cathay Pacific. Her poise and spirit led her to proudly represent Hong Kong in the 1954 Miss Universe pageant, where she was crowned as the second runner-up. June married Roger Glasby and moved to Muncie, Indiana, USA, where she earned her degree from Ball State University and taught in the Delta School District. She later married Richard Tieken and relocated to Columbus, Georgia, where she continued sharing her love of learning as a professor at several universities. It was during these years—guiding students, shaping young minds, and building community in the classroom—that June found the work she was most proud of. In her later years, June made her home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she remained active, curious, and deeply cherished by family.

June is survived by her daughter, Valery (Bob) Keibler; grandchildren Kari Roxanne Keibler, Natalie (Cody) Wolfe, Leslee (Doug) Richie, Alexis Simone Keibler, and Quentin (Angela) Keibler; and great-grandchildren Emeralda, Alister, Opal, Dougie, Forest, Carmela, and Maple. She was preceded in death by her parents and her beloved sisters, Carolyn Barbara “Bobbie” DeRier and Wendy Thurn. She also leaves behind her beloved cat, Miss Kitty, who brought her companionship, comfort, and joy. June will be remembered for her unwavering kindness, her sense of humor, her elegance, and the stories she shared from a life lived fully, bravely, and with a generous heart. Her legacy lives on in the lives she touched and the love she gave so freely.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites anyone wishing to honor June’s memory to support their local public broadcasting station or an animal rescue organization—causes she cared for deeply and that reflected her values.