Ilion High School - Class of 1911

Ilion Sentinel - October 13, 1938

THE CLASS OF 1911

Mrs. Lucille B. Worden, Ilion Little Theater Club Founder, Dies

Article 3

Mrs. Lucille B. Worden, Ilion Little Theater Club Founder, Dies

Mrs. Lucille Burch Worden, founder of the Ilion Little Theatre Club, and wife of former Mayor Rome D. Worden, 57 West Street, Ilion, died unexpectedly, Sunday morning, at the Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital, Cooperstown.

Mrs. Worden had gone to the hospital two weeks ago for treatment. Undergoing what appeared to b e a successful operation, she was well on the way to recovery when death came suddenly.

Mrs. Worden was born in Ilion, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William W. Burch. She had been a life-time resident of Ilion, and attended schools here, She was graduated from Ilion High School in 1911.

She was extremely interested in theatrical work and literature and was author of a book of children's stories, published several years ago. She also had written several poems. Her interest in writing led to her attendance at the Breadloaf Writers conference at, Middlebury College, Vt., in 1935 and 1936.

One of the original founders of the Little Theatre Club in 1921, Mrs. Worden held the first meeting of the group at her home. Membership was limited to 50 and the first one-act plays were produced in her attic. Growth of the organization made it necessary to move to larger quarters in a building on Barringer Road. However, because of the rapid expansion of the Little Theatre, Mrs. Worden instigated plans to purchase the old Remington stables on Remington Avenue, in 1930.

The organization, under her guidance, has increased to over 100 sustaining members in its eleven years of operation. She wrote and produced many of the plays, both of the one-act and three-act variety. She also acted in many of them.

She was married to Rome Worden in 1911, and was a member of the Mohawk Valley Country Club.

Survivors in addition to her husband and parents, include a sister, Mrs. Fred Hecox, of Ilion.

Funeral services were held Tuesday at 2 p. m. from the Whiter Funeral Home, with the Rev. L. R. Benson officiating. Bearers were Henry M. Dexter, Arthur M. Roberts, Landon L. Lynt, Homer Russell, R. J. Simmons and Clare Getman. Burial was in Armor y Hill cemetery.