Georgia S. McWhinney, 85, literacy professor

Georgia S. McWhinney, 85, of Wyncote, an associate professor in the field of literacy, died Wednesday, May 20, of cancer at her home.

Dr. McWhinney devoted her energies to her family and the study and teaching of emergent literacy in both children and adults.

Emergent literacy, a term coined by researcher Marie Clay, refers to the gradual process by which children and adults interact with language, books, and those around them on the road to literacy.

A part of the process is speaking, listening, writing, and viewing words and pictures. Down that road, those factors converge into the ability to read and write in a conventional sense.

Dr. McWhinney taught reading strategies at various levels. Her students ranged from kindergartners in Pennsylvania public schools to graduate students at the University of Pennsylvania and at Chestnut Hill College.

During her 50-year career, she was invited to speak in the United States and Europe.

She retired twice - first from the Abington School District, where she rose to supervisor of reading, and the second time from Chestnut Hill College, where she was an associate professor of education and received the Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award.

Born in Western Pennsylvania to Slovak and Hungarian immigrant parents, she graduated from the University of Pittsburgh and went on to complete a master's degree from Harvard University's Graduate School of Education in 1970.

Dr. McWhinney earned a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania in 1989.

In retirement, she volunteered with the Abington Free Library Adult Literacy Program.

Always artistic, Dr. McWhinney discovered oil painting in her later years and grew as an artist, taking classes and workshops at Woodmere Art Museum. She created beauty in her home and in her flower and vegetable gardens.

Dr. McWhinney was both loving and generous. "People said she was simultaneously the salt of the earth and a class act," said her daughter Melissa. "She was always curious to know who you were, how were you doing, and how could she help you make your way in life."

She was married to W. Russell McWhinney; he died in 2010.

Besides her daughter, Dr. McWhinney is survived by a son, Scott; another daughter, Heather; and three grandchildren.

A show of her paintings is being planned for Saturday, Aug. 8, at the Woodmere Art Museum, 9201 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. Details are pending.

Donations may be made to the Abington Free Library Adult Literacy Program via www.abingtonfreelibrary.org/about-us/donate.

Other donation options include Woodmere Art Museum via http://woodmereartmuseum.org; Heifer International via www.heifer.org; and Doctors Without Borders via www.doctorswithoutborders.org.