Virginia Piluras, a longtime observer and critic of Oxford Township government, passed away Aug. 29, 2006. She was 83.
An ardent fiscal conservative and fierce advocate for local taxpayers, Piluras served as a trustee on the township board from 1992-96.
‘She was a real watchdog when it came to spending tax dollars,? said township Clerk Clara Sanderson, who’s served on the board since 1972. ‘She was very involved in government at all levels.?
‘She was very knowledgable,? said township resident and local political watchdog Helen Barwig, who described Piluras as a ‘walking encyclopedia of government rules, laws, everything.?
Piluras resided in the township for 33 years and was a regular attendee at board meetings for many of those years. She believed government should be accountable for its actions and open to citizen input.
‘She really wanted government by the people and for the people,? said Sanderson, who described Piluras as ‘humorous? and ‘very likeable.?
‘She was a good person. She always thought of the community,? said Barwig, noting she fought against attempts to place a prison and landfill in Oxford.
A retired Licensed Practical Nurse who graduated from the Shapiro School of Nursing, Piluras was also a voice for senior citizens at the state and national levels. One of the issues she fought hard against was Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act of 1988, which was repealed in November 1989 after a ground swell of negative public reaction.
An active senior herself, Piluras enjoyed yoga and taught it to others for 10 years.
Piluras was preceded in death by her husband of more than 60 years, Sam, who passed in May 2006. She is survived by daughters Joanne Morse, of Waterford, and Karen Burnett, of Sylvan Lake.
Funeral services were held Sept. 2 at Bossardet Chapel Lynch & Sons Funeral Directors in Oxford.
Interment was at Square Lake Cemetery.