GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Val Loock (87), a stalwart of St James' Anglican Church who was involved in many areas of Graaff-Reinet life, died suddenly of acute illness on 31 July.
It was whilst at school in Uitenhage that she met her future husband, Hans. She moved to Cape Town to train as a nurse, while he was at medical school in the city.
Her caring nature and diligence earned her five gold medals during her training, and she was named one of the Cape's star nurses.
Val and Hans married in 1954 and settled in Graaff-Reinet in the 1950s, where Hans opened a general practice. Val gave antenatal classes to expectant mothers.
The success of the annual Rose Show was largely due to her enthusiastic organisation, and she created beautiful arrangements. She was also the chairperson of the St James' Ladies' Fellowship for many years.
Val served on the school council of Union Schools for 27 years and was elected to the Cape Provincial Education Council in 1987.
She was one of those invited to plant a Union Schools' Centenary Rose at the official opening of the Pre-School's new building in 2018. "Mrs Loock served the School Committee with absolute distinction," said Headmaster William Pringle.
After Hans retired, the couple moved to Cape Town, with the dream of strolling along the beach. Her daughter Diane said ruefully that this did not happen, as Hans was invited to take on locum jobs. Hans died in 2007, and Val moved back to Graaff-Reinet. She was on the Board of Parsonage Street Home's Brenda Horwitz Court, and always organised the annual Christmas party for the Home.
She was a loyal member of Camdeboo Hospice's Board from 2008. "Val was a wonderful hostess and true lady. We miss her dearly," said administrator Colleen Buckle. Val was an avid reader. Her granddaughter Françoise read to her from her favourite novel, Anna Karenina, on the day of her passing. Val's death leaves an irreparable void not only in her family but also in the Graaff-Reinet community.
She is survived by her daughter Diane and Diane's children Françoise and Jean, and by her son James.
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