Janet L. Volkman, a longtime community volunteer and widow of two St. Louis businessmen, including the publisher of the old St. Louis Globe-Democrat, died Monday (Nov. 16, 2009), a week after suffering a stroke at the Gatesworth in University City. She was 94 and a longtime resident of Ladue.

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Janet Katharine Law graduated from Mount Holyoke College, and had a brief career in banking before marrying Richard H. Amberg, a newspaper executive, in 1938.

They moved to St. Louis in 1955, where Mr. Amberg was publisher of the old Globe-Democrat until his death in 1967.

She met widower Chester H. Volkman, owner of a construction company, when they were seated at the same table at a charity auction. She enticed him to successfully bid on the featured item of the auction, a new house for which he had no need. They married the next year, in 1970. Mr. Volkman died in 1992.

Mrs. Volkman swam a mile each day until she was 90. She tapered off to a half-mile daily until suffering a fall two years ago.

She was a volunteer for charities and civic organizations, headed the residential part of the United Way campaign and served on the Women's Exchange board. She was a tutor in the Oasis reading program for second- and third-grade students.

She was a friend of several notable people, including Jean MacArthur, wife of Gen. Douglas MacArthur; former President Herbert Hoover; Lady Sarah Spencer-Churchill, a relative of Sir Winston Churchill's; Dolores Hope, wife of Bob Hope; and Sir John Marshall, the late prime minister of New Zealand.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Lupton Chapel, 7233 Delmar Boulevard, University City. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 110 North Warson Road, Ladue. Burial will be private at Oak Grove Cemetery.

Among the survivors are two sons, Richard H. Amberg Jr. of Washington and Thomas L. Amberg of Lake Forest, Ill.; two stepdaughters, Noel Volkman Cooke of London and Johns Island, Fla., and Hilary Volkman of St. Louis; eight grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Herbert Hoover Boys & Girls Club or St. Peter's Episcopal Church.