Laverne Ryan Volk, age 88, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 24, 2014 following a long illness. Laverne was born in Runge, Texas to Marcus and Norma Ryan on July 9, 1925. Her family moved to San Antonio, where she graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School. She attended The University of Texas at Austin, where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. During her college years, she formed many close friendships with sorority sisters and other classmates that lasted throughout her life. Following her graduation from UT in 1946, she moved to Corpus Christi and took a job at La Retama Library. While working there, she met Henry W (Bill) Volk, Jr., a geologist, WWII Navy veteran, and recent transplant from Minnesota. Bill was more interested in Laverne than the books on the shelves, and they began a courtship that soon led to their marriage on March 19, 1949. They had two sons — William Ryan (Bill) Volk in 1950, and Charles Thomas (Chuck) Volk in 1952.
Laverne was a long time member of the First United Methodist Church of Corpus Christi. For many years, she taught Sunday school to Junior High students, and she helped lead the Church's summer camp held at the HEB Foundation Camps in Leakey, Texas. She is fondly remembered by many former students and campers. Laverne and Bill were also instrumental in bringing Young Life to Corpus Christi in the late 60's. She was very active in the community. She was a member of the Junior League, Las Donas de la Corte, The Order of De Pineda, La Retama, and The Corpus Christi Womens' Bible Study. Most of all, Laverne enjoyed spending time with her family. She was a devoted and loving daughter, wife, mother, and grandmother.
She was an excellent cook and a warm and gracious hostess. She and Bill loved to entertain family and friends at their home and at their ranch near Goliad. At the ranch, she developed a keen interest in nature and wildlife. She became an accomplished photographer and spent many hours in her blind at dawn and dusk photographing birds and animals. She also loved to photograph wildflowers. For the past several years, Laverne struggled with a debilitating illness. She met the many challenges she faced with quiet dignity and grace. She never lost her sense of humor, and found some joy in life every day.
Laverne was preceded in death by her younger brother, Marcus Gus; her parents; and her husband, Bill. She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Bill and Danna Volk of Austin, and Chuck and Lorraine Volk of Corpus Christi; her grandchildren, Mark Volk and his wife, Jennifer of Dallas, and Elizabeth Volk, Will Volk, David Volk and his wife, Katie, and Carolyn Volk, all of Austin; and by her new great-grandchild, Olive Marie, daughter of David and Katie.
Laverne was a long time member of the First United Methodist Church of Corpus Christi. For many years, she taught Sunday school to Junior High students, and she helped lead the Church's summer camp held at the HEB Foundation Camps in Leakey, Texas. She is fondly remembered by many former students and campers. Laverne and Bill were also instrumental in bringing Young Life to Corpus Christi in the late 60's. She was very active in the community. She was a member of the Junior League, Las Donas de la Corte, The Order of De Pineda, La Retama, and The Corpus Christi Womens' Bible Study. Most of all, Laverne enjoyed spending time with her family. She was a devoted and loving daughter, wife, mother, and grandmother.
She was an excellent cook and a warm and gracious hostess. She and Bill loved to entertain family and friends at their home and at their ranch near Goliad. At the ranch, she developed a keen interest in nature and wildlife. She became an accomplished photographer and spent many hours in her blind at dawn and dusk photographing birds and animals. She also loved to photograph wildflowers. For the past several years, Laverne struggled with a debilitating illness. She met the many challenges she faced with quiet dignity and grace. She never lost her sense of humor, and found some joy in life every day.
Laverne was preceded in death by her younger brother, Marcus Gus; her parents; and her husband, Bill. She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Bill and Danna Volk of Austin, and Chuck and Lorraine Volk of Corpus Christi; her grandchildren, Mark Volk and his wife, Jennifer of Dallas, and Elizabeth Volk, Will Volk, David Volk and his wife, Katie, and Carolyn Volk, all of Austin; and by her new great-grandchild, Olive Marie, daughter of David and Katie.
Laverne Ryan Volk, age 88, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 24, 2014 following a long illness. Laverne was born in Runge, Texas to Marcus and Norma Ryan on July 9, 1925. Her family moved to San Antonio, where she graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School. She attended The University of Texas at Austin, where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. During her college years, she formed many close friendships with sorority sisters and other classmates that lasted throughout her life. Following her graduation from UT in 1946, she moved to Corpus Christi and took a job at La Retama Library. While working there, she met Henry W (Bill) Volk, Jr., a geologist, WWII Navy veteran, and recent transplant from Minnesota. Bill was more interested in Laverne than the books on the shelves, and they began a courtship that soon led to their marriage on March 19, 1949. They had two sons — William Ryan (Bill) Volk in 1950, and Charles Thomas (Chuck) Volk in 1952.
Laverne was a long time member of the First United Methodist Church of Corpus Christi. For many years, she taught Sunday school to Junior High students, and she helped lead the Church's summer camp held at the HEB Foundation Camps in Leakey, Texas. She is fondly remembered by many former students and campers. Laverne and Bill were also instrumental in bringing Young Life to Corpus Christi in the late 60's. She was very active in the community. She was a member of the Junior League, Las Donas de la Corte, The Order of De Pineda, La Retama, and The Corpus Christi Womens' Bible Study. Most of all, Laverne enjoyed spending time with her family. She was a devoted and loving daughter, wife, mother, and grandmother.
She was an excellent cook and a warm and gracious hostess. She and Bill loved to entertain family and friends at their home and at their ranch near Goliad. At the ranch, she developed a keen interest in nature and wildlife. She became an accomplished photographer and spent many hours in her blind at dawn and dusk photographing birds and animals. She also loved to photograph wildflowers. For the past several years, Laverne struggled with a debilitating illness. She met the many challenges she faced with quiet dignity and grace. She never lost her sense of humor, and found some joy in life every day.
Laverne was preceded in death by her younger brother, Marcus Gus; her parents; and her husband, Bill. She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Bill and Danna Volk of Austin, and Chuck and Lorraine Volk of Corpus Christi; her grandchildren, Mark Volk and his wife, Jennifer of Dallas, and Elizabeth Volk, Will Volk, David Volk and his wife, Katie, and Carolyn Volk, all of Austin; and by her new great-grandchild, Olive Marie, daughter of David and Katie.
Laverne was a long time member of the First United Methodist Church of Corpus Christi. For many years, she taught Sunday school to Junior High students, and she helped lead the Church's summer camp held at the HEB Foundation Camps in Leakey, Texas. She is fondly remembered by many former students and campers. Laverne and Bill were also instrumental in bringing Young Life to Corpus Christi in the late 60's. She was very active in the community. She was a member of the Junior League, Las Donas de la Corte, The Order of De Pineda, La Retama, and The Corpus Christi Womens' Bible Study. Most of all, Laverne enjoyed spending time with her family. She was a devoted and loving daughter, wife, mother, and grandmother.
She was an excellent cook and a warm and gracious hostess. She and Bill loved to entertain family and friends at their home and at their ranch near Goliad. At the ranch, she developed a keen interest in nature and wildlife. She became an accomplished photographer and spent many hours in her blind at dawn and dusk photographing birds and animals. She also loved to photograph wildflowers. For the past several years, Laverne struggled with a debilitating illness. She met the many challenges she faced with quiet dignity and grace. She never lost her sense of humor, and found some joy in life every day.
Laverne was preceded in death by her younger brother, Marcus Gus; her parents; and her husband, Bill. She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Bill and Danna Volk of Austin, and Chuck and Lorraine Volk of Corpus Christi; her grandchildren, Mark Volk and his wife, Jennifer of Dallas, and Elizabeth Volk, Will Volk, David Volk and his wife, Katie, and Carolyn Volk, all of Austin; and by her new great-grandchild, Olive Marie, daughter of David and Katie.
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