Vera James
Born: January 20th, 1925
Died: October 25th, 2015
Obituary
Vera James, born January 20, 1925, passed away on October 25, 2015 in Winter Haven, Florida. She was the daughter of Vere McCullough Walker and Florence Wehmeyer Walker. She was the widow of Robert Morgan James.
Vera was the valedictorian of her high school graduating class and was a graduate of Chillicothe Business College, Chillicothe, Missouri. During World War II, she was an employee in the Administrative Department of the Rock Island Arsenal in Rock Island, Illinois. Following the war, she and her veteran husband established their home in Burlington, Iowa, where she was an employee of the U.S. Employment Office in Burlington.
Vera was involved in civic affairs, including the Burlington United Way. She was Vice President of the Sunnyside Elementary School Parent Teachers Association and was den mother of the Boy Scouts of America. She was Vice President of the Burlington Women's Club where she established the Psychology and Philosophy Departments. She also gave lectures to various local groups on the subject "Religions of the World."
Vera was a 50-year member of the Grace United Methodist Church in Burlington, Iowa, its Women's Society and Mary Circle. She was a communion steward for the Church. Vera was the first Church member to suggest that the building have handicap access, and she and her husband gave the initial donation to that project. She was a member of the fundraising committee that was able to provide funds for the rehabilitation of the Church facility, including the addition of an elevator that provided access to all levels of the Church.
Vera was a member of the Des Moines County Association for Retarded Children and was a member of the fundraising committee, the goal of which was to provide a school where developmentally disabled children could be provided with special education. As a result, Hope Haven School opened in 1964 with Vera serving as Executive Secretary, a position that she held until her retirement in 1982. She was Treasurer of the Board of Directors of the Hope Haven Complex which, in addition to the School, included a residential facility and a facility for providing work-study programming for developmentally disabled adults. This program has been very successful in providing employment opportunities at various businesses in the Burlington area, including establishment of the Stories Café at the Burlington Public Library.
Vera was preceded in death by her husband, both parents, and one brother (Donald Walker) and one sister (Ruth Buser). Survivors include three sons: Kerrill of Houston, Texas; Richard (Valerie) of Meridian, Idaho; and Thomas (Ursula) of Colorado Springs, Colorado; five grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
As to Vera's wishes, her body has been cremated. A memorial service will be held at Lunning Funeral Chapel, 2620 Mt. Pleasant Street, Burlington, Iowa on November 7, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. Visitation with family and friends will be held preceding the service from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Interment will be at Aspen Grove Cemetery, Burlington, Iowa immediately following the service.
A memorial has been established for the Hope Haven Area Development Corporation, 828 N. 7th Street, Burlington, Iowa 52601.
Condolences may be sent to the James Family at 740 Pollux Drive, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80906.