Stella Tongour, 87, of Barnwell died Feb. 5 at the Anchor Health nursing facility in Aiken.
Born in Moscow, Russia, to Mira and Vladimir Tomsky, she spent her early years living in various European cities, including Paris, France; Bucharest, Romania and Istanbul, Turkey, where she met and married Jack Tongour, also of Barnwell, in 1945.
During World War II, beginning in 1943, she worked for the United States Office of War Information as a translator from Romanian radio broadcasts into French and English. She had earlier been educated in French schools, was a talented linguist and spoke a number of languages fluently.
In 1950, Stella and Jack immigrated to the United States and soon settled in Barnwell, which quickly became their real home, where they raised two children Nadia and Michael, and became active members of the community. Stella attended the University of South Carolina where she finished magna cum laude and earned her B.A. in 1977, along with a Phi Beta Kappa key. She subsequently obtained an advanced degree in educational testing. She taught French and Spanish at Jefferson Davis Academy in Blackville, Allendale Academy in Allendale and Barnwell High School.
A committed teacher, a lifelong learner and a devoted volunteer, she was also an active parishioner/volunteer at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Apostles. As a community volunteer, she tutored at the local adult literacy program, worked in the county library and museum, and read to patients in various local medical facilities. Even late in life, she taught French and Russian to individual students. She also supported community theater in Barnwell, and acted in several performances.
She is survived by her husband Jack Tongour of Barnwell; her children Nadia and Michael Tongour; daughter-in-law Lalie Chambers Tongour; and grandchildren Dana Michael Hunt, Jack Chambers Tongour, Michael Alexander Tongour Jr. and Stella Louise Tongour, all of Washington, D.C.
The funeral service will be held at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Apostles in Barnwell. The family will be pleased to greet friends at a reception at the church parish hall following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in the name of Stella Tongour may be sent to the Church of the Holy Apostles at 228 Hagood Avenue, Barnwell, S.C. 29812.
The People-Sentinel 2/8/12