Born in La Plata, Missouri, Vera excelled early as an acrobat, tap dancer, violinist and captain of the high school basketball team. Graduating one year early, Vera followed in the footsteps of her older sister Wanda and mother Eva, attending Kirksville State Teachers College until she moved to Texas to join the war effort as a secretary at the Army Air Force base.
While working at the base, she met a pilot from Batavia, New York, named Robert (Bob) Worthington, whom she married shortly after peace was declared. Vera and Bob stayed in Texas until Bob graduated from TCU and then moved to St. Charles, Missouri, where they built their first home and had two sons. Vera volunteered as secretary for the local Episcopal Church, helped found and build another Episcopal church, and served as an American Red Cross "Gray Lady" at the local hospital.
Bob's career moved the family to Dunwoody, Georgia, in February, 1964, where they built their second home. A few months later, Bob's career sent him to New York City and the family built a third home in Stamford, Connecticut (exactly like the home in Georgia).
Vera's service as a Gray Lady developed into volunteering for the Red Cross's disaster relief efforts during innumerable floods and hurricanes. Vera's enthusiasm, work ethic, and ability to inspire others soon placed her as Director of Volunteers for these efforts, finding food and shelter for victims.
In the fall of 1969 the family moved once more to their final home in Charlotte, NC, where Vera lived for 46 years. In Charlotte, Vera immediately joined St. John's Episcopal Church and began volunteering for the local Red Cross. This resulted in her heavy involvement with the blood donation program and quickly becoming the Director of Volunteers. After Bob's death in 1973, Vera continued to volunteer at the Red Cross. Vera was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1975 and underwent a radical mastectomy.
After recovering, her work at the Red Cross eventually introduced her to Henry (Hank) Wilmer, who was the Director of Charlotte's branch of the Red Cross. Hank was also a pilot in World War II. Hank and Vera developed the Sunday blood program in Charlotte, going to different churches every Sunday, asking people to donate blood, to fill the shortage created over the weekend.
Hank recognized the beauty of Vera's spirit and a romance began. They married in 1978 and spent five wonderful years together, sailing, racing regattas on Lake Norman, and traveling. Hank passed away in 1983.
Vera soon immersed herself in the Senior Olympic Games, both as a volunteer and participant, winning many gold medals in a variety of events, including three-on-three women's basketball which sent her across the country more than once to compete for national titles, winning one. Vera was an avid golfer at Sharon Golf Club and bowled in leagues most of her life.
Vera found Habitat for Humanity and quickly embraced it as another place to give back to the community and volunteered her services until 1995, when she had a severe bout with viral meningitis/encephalitis which required a long recovery. After recovering, Vera continued to participate in the senior games and also joined forces with the American Cancer Society and became a counselor to young women diagnosed with breast cancer as a representation of hope, being a twenty-five year survivor. In the last fifteen years, Vera survived colon cancer, and faced breast cancer twice more, the final time requiring an additional mastectomy.
Throughout it all, Vera never let go of her belief that "every cloud has a silver lining." Vera was a devoted mother, to the point of having the same home built in Georgia, Connecticut, and North Carolina, to provide solidarity for Scott and Rod while moving up and down the east coast. She continued this devotion to her grandchildren, being a staple in their lives from birth, never missing a moment.
Vera is survived by her two sons and their wives, four grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
A memorial service for family and friends will be held Thursday, July 2, at 10:00 AM at St. John's Episcopal Church, 1623 Carmel Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28226
Published in The Charlotte Observer, Charlotte, NC, June 28, 2015.
While working at the base, she met a pilot from Batavia, New York, named Robert (Bob) Worthington, whom she married shortly after peace was declared. Vera and Bob stayed in Texas until Bob graduated from TCU and then moved to St. Charles, Missouri, where they built their first home and had two sons. Vera volunteered as secretary for the local Episcopal Church, helped found and build another Episcopal church, and served as an American Red Cross "Gray Lady" at the local hospital.
Bob's career moved the family to Dunwoody, Georgia, in February, 1964, where they built their second home. A few months later, Bob's career sent him to New York City and the family built a third home in Stamford, Connecticut (exactly like the home in Georgia).
Vera's service as a Gray Lady developed into volunteering for the Red Cross's disaster relief efforts during innumerable floods and hurricanes. Vera's enthusiasm, work ethic, and ability to inspire others soon placed her as Director of Volunteers for these efforts, finding food and shelter for victims.
In the fall of 1969 the family moved once more to their final home in Charlotte, NC, where Vera lived for 46 years. In Charlotte, Vera immediately joined St. John's Episcopal Church and began volunteering for the local Red Cross. This resulted in her heavy involvement with the blood donation program and quickly becoming the Director of Volunteers. After Bob's death in 1973, Vera continued to volunteer at the Red Cross. Vera was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1975 and underwent a radical mastectomy.
After recovering, her work at the Red Cross eventually introduced her to Henry (Hank) Wilmer, who was the Director of Charlotte's branch of the Red Cross. Hank was also a pilot in World War II. Hank and Vera developed the Sunday blood program in Charlotte, going to different churches every Sunday, asking people to donate blood, to fill the shortage created over the weekend.
Hank recognized the beauty of Vera's spirit and a romance began. They married in 1978 and spent five wonderful years together, sailing, racing regattas on Lake Norman, and traveling. Hank passed away in 1983.
Vera soon immersed herself in the Senior Olympic Games, both as a volunteer and participant, winning many gold medals in a variety of events, including three-on-three women's basketball which sent her across the country more than once to compete for national titles, winning one. Vera was an avid golfer at Sharon Golf Club and bowled in leagues most of her life.
Vera found Habitat for Humanity and quickly embraced it as another place to give back to the community and volunteered her services until 1995, when she had a severe bout with viral meningitis/encephalitis which required a long recovery. After recovering, Vera continued to participate in the senior games and also joined forces with the American Cancer Society and became a counselor to young women diagnosed with breast cancer as a representation of hope, being a twenty-five year survivor. In the last fifteen years, Vera survived colon cancer, and faced breast cancer twice more, the final time requiring an additional mastectomy.
Throughout it all, Vera never let go of her belief that "every cloud has a silver lining." Vera was a devoted mother, to the point of having the same home built in Georgia, Connecticut, and North Carolina, to provide solidarity for Scott and Rod while moving up and down the east coast. She continued this devotion to her grandchildren, being a staple in their lives from birth, never missing a moment.
Vera is survived by her two sons and their wives, four grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
A memorial service for family and friends will be held Thursday, July 2, at 10:00 AM at St. John's Episcopal Church, 1623 Carmel Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28226
Published in The Charlotte Observer, Charlotte, NC, June 28, 2015.
Born in La Plata, Missouri, Vera excelled early as an acrobat, tap dancer, violinist and captain of the high school basketball team. Graduating one year early, Vera followed in the footsteps of her older sister Wanda and mother Eva, attending Kirksville State Teachers College until she moved to Texas to join the war effort as a secretary at the Army Air Force base.
While working at the base, she met a pilot from Batavia, New York, named Robert (Bob) Worthington, whom she married shortly after peace was declared. Vera and Bob stayed in Texas until Bob graduated from TCU and then moved to St. Charles, Missouri, where they built their first home and had two sons. Vera volunteered as secretary for the local Episcopal Church, helped found and build another Episcopal church, and served as an American Red Cross "Gray Lady" at the local hospital.
Bob's career moved the family to Dunwoody, Georgia, in February, 1964, where they built their second home. A few months later, Bob's career sent him to New York City and the family built a third home in Stamford, Connecticut (exactly like the home in Georgia).
Vera's service as a Gray Lady developed into volunteering for the Red Cross's disaster relief efforts during innumerable floods and hurricanes. Vera's enthusiasm, work ethic, and ability to inspire others soon placed her as Director of Volunteers for these efforts, finding food and shelter for victims.
In the fall of 1969 the family moved once more to their final home in Charlotte, NC, where Vera lived for 46 years. In Charlotte, Vera immediately joined St. John's Episcopal Church and began volunteering for the local Red Cross. This resulted in her heavy involvement with the blood donation program and quickly becoming the Director of Volunteers. After Bob's death in 1973, Vera continued to volunteer at the Red Cross. Vera was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1975 and underwent a radical mastectomy.
After recovering, her work at the Red Cross eventually introduced her to Henry (Hank) Wilmer, who was the Director of Charlotte's branch of the Red Cross. Hank was also a pilot in World War II. Hank and Vera developed the Sunday blood program in Charlotte, going to different churches every Sunday, asking people to donate blood, to fill the shortage created over the weekend.
Hank recognized the beauty of Vera's spirit and a romance began. They married in 1978 and spent five wonderful years together, sailing, racing regattas on Lake Norman, and traveling. Hank passed away in 1983.
Vera soon immersed herself in the Senior Olympic Games, both as a volunteer and participant, winning many gold medals in a variety of events, including three-on-three women's basketball which sent her across the country more than once to compete for national titles, winning one. Vera was an avid golfer at Sharon Golf Club and bowled in leagues most of her life.
Vera found Habitat for Humanity and quickly embraced it as another place to give back to the community and volunteered her services until 1995, when she had a severe bout with viral meningitis/encephalitis which required a long recovery. After recovering, Vera continued to participate in the senior games and also joined forces with the American Cancer Society and became a counselor to young women diagnosed with breast cancer as a representation of hope, being a twenty-five year survivor. In the last fifteen years, Vera survived colon cancer, and faced breast cancer twice more, the final time requiring an additional mastectomy.
Throughout it all, Vera never let go of her belief that "every cloud has a silver lining." Vera was a devoted mother, to the point of having the same home built in Georgia, Connecticut, and North Carolina, to provide solidarity for Scott and Rod while moving up and down the east coast. She continued this devotion to her grandchildren, being a staple in their lives from birth, never missing a moment.
Vera is survived by her two sons and their wives, four grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
A memorial service for family and friends will be held Thursday, July 2, at 10:00 AM at St. John's Episcopal Church, 1623 Carmel Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28226
Published in The Charlotte Observer, Charlotte, NC, June 28, 2015.
While working at the base, she met a pilot from Batavia, New York, named Robert (Bob) Worthington, whom she married shortly after peace was declared. Vera and Bob stayed in Texas until Bob graduated from TCU and then moved to St. Charles, Missouri, where they built their first home and had two sons. Vera volunteered as secretary for the local Episcopal Church, helped found and build another Episcopal church, and served as an American Red Cross "Gray Lady" at the local hospital.
Bob's career moved the family to Dunwoody, Georgia, in February, 1964, where they built their second home. A few months later, Bob's career sent him to New York City and the family built a third home in Stamford, Connecticut (exactly like the home in Georgia).
Vera's service as a Gray Lady developed into volunteering for the Red Cross's disaster relief efforts during innumerable floods and hurricanes. Vera's enthusiasm, work ethic, and ability to inspire others soon placed her as Director of Volunteers for these efforts, finding food and shelter for victims.
In the fall of 1969 the family moved once more to their final home in Charlotte, NC, where Vera lived for 46 years. In Charlotte, Vera immediately joined St. John's Episcopal Church and began volunteering for the local Red Cross. This resulted in her heavy involvement with the blood donation program and quickly becoming the Director of Volunteers. After Bob's death in 1973, Vera continued to volunteer at the Red Cross. Vera was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1975 and underwent a radical mastectomy.
After recovering, her work at the Red Cross eventually introduced her to Henry (Hank) Wilmer, who was the Director of Charlotte's branch of the Red Cross. Hank was also a pilot in World War II. Hank and Vera developed the Sunday blood program in Charlotte, going to different churches every Sunday, asking people to donate blood, to fill the shortage created over the weekend.
Hank recognized the beauty of Vera's spirit and a romance began. They married in 1978 and spent five wonderful years together, sailing, racing regattas on Lake Norman, and traveling. Hank passed away in 1983.
Vera soon immersed herself in the Senior Olympic Games, both as a volunteer and participant, winning many gold medals in a variety of events, including three-on-three women's basketball which sent her across the country more than once to compete for national titles, winning one. Vera was an avid golfer at Sharon Golf Club and bowled in leagues most of her life.
Vera found Habitat for Humanity and quickly embraced it as another place to give back to the community and volunteered her services until 1995, when she had a severe bout with viral meningitis/encephalitis which required a long recovery. After recovering, Vera continued to participate in the senior games and also joined forces with the American Cancer Society and became a counselor to young women diagnosed with breast cancer as a representation of hope, being a twenty-five year survivor. In the last fifteen years, Vera survived colon cancer, and faced breast cancer twice more, the final time requiring an additional mastectomy.
Throughout it all, Vera never let go of her belief that "every cloud has a silver lining." Vera was a devoted mother, to the point of having the same home built in Georgia, Connecticut, and North Carolina, to provide solidarity for Scott and Rod while moving up and down the east coast. She continued this devotion to her grandchildren, being a staple in their lives from birth, never missing a moment.
Vera is survived by her two sons and their wives, four grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
A memorial service for family and friends will be held Thursday, July 2, at 10:00 AM at St. John's Episcopal Church, 1623 Carmel Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28226
Published in The Charlotte Observer, Charlotte, NC, June 28, 2015.
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