Verna Elizabeth (Conner) Fitzgerald, 91, widow of Earl C. Fitzgerald, of Patton Farm Road, died on Sunday, October 10, 2010, at the Stuarts Draft Christian Home.

She was born on May 4, 1919, in Rockbridge County, a daughter of the late Emmett and Cora Bell (Welch) Conner.

She was a member of the Stuarts Draft VFW Women's Auxiliary. She was a member of Calvary United Methodist Church for 76 years.

Mrs. Fitzgerald was a homemaker.

Family members include three daughters and sons-in-law, Elaine and Jim Almarode of Stuarts Draft, Becky and Tom Smiley of Manquin, and Ann and Martin Phillips of Mechanicsville; seven grandchildren, John Almarode and his wife, Danielle, Joe Almarode and his wife, Kelly, all of Waynesboro, Robert Phillips and his wife, Sandra, of Ruther Glen, Diana Ellen and her husband, Andy, Donna Will and her husband, Jeff, Deborah Armstrong and her husband, Brian, and Amy Leonard and her husband, Michael, all of Mechanicsville; eleven great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; and a number of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by twin baby girls; and her sisters and brothers, Helen, Mae, Viola, Louise, Alberta, Irene, Mildred, Everrett, James, Kenneth, and Dewey. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family.

A funeral service will be conducted 11 a.m. Thursday, October 14, 2010, at Calvary United Methodist Church by the Reverend Walter B. Failes Jr. Burial will follow at the Church Cemetery.

Active pallbearers will be her grandsons and grandsons-in-law, Andy Ellen, Brian Armstrong, Michael Leonard, Robert Phillips, John Almarode, Joe Almarode, Grier Harlow, and Preston Armstrong.

Honorary pallbearers will be friends attending the service.

The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. Wednesday, October 13, 2010, at the church and other times at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Elaine and Jim Almarode, 240 Cambridge Drive, Stuarts Draft.

Henry Funeral Home is handling the arrangements and condolences may be sent to the family at www.henryfuneralhome.net.


Published in The News Virginian on October 13, 2010