Verd Vasco Dunn

Verd Vasco Dunn went to meet his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on January 22, 2015. He was born on March 13, 1921, to Verd Vasco and Margaret Baker Dunn in Omaha, Nebraska, joining his older sister, Ruth. After his father’s death, when he was a year old, his mother married Roy Shattuck, relocated to Kansas City, Missouri, and had two sons, Paul and Jackie. Verd’s siblings have all preceded him in death. Because of hard times during the Depression, Verd lived with his uncle and aunt, Cargill and Elizabeth Dunn, in Winchester, Kansas, from age eight until his graduation from Winchester High School in 1939. Following graduation, he spent one year in the Civilian Conservation Corps before joining the Army Air Corps. His dream of becoming a pilot was realized when he graduated from flight training in November 1944, but his military service ended abruptly following a motorcycle accident in May of 1945 while he was stationed in Monroe, Louisiana. After spending twenty-one days in a coma with a severe brain injury, he gave credit for his miraculous recovery to God’s call on his life, and devoted himself from that time on to serving the Lord. He was given a disability retirement from the Army Air Corps in 1946 and continued his education at Junior College of Kansas City and Geneva College, eventually graduating with a B.A. from Seattle Pacific College in 1951. He taught in the Seattle area public schools for seven years. He married Elizabeth Ann Lamont on May 2, 1947. Daughters Carol and Eileen were born from that union. Elizabeth died of cancer on September 26, 1957. He and his daughters moved to Kansas City to live with his mother while he worked and attended Central Baptist Seminary. Verd met Alice McClelland Houser and her daughters, Jeanine, Sandi, and Deanna while in Kansas City. He and Alice were united in marriage on August 26, 1960 and just celebrated 54 years of marriage. They and their five daughters moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he attended and graduated from the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary in 1962. His first pastorate was in Superior, Nebraska, from 1962-1965, followed by a move to Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, to pastor the Hot Springs RP mission church from 1965-1970. Verd moved to Albuquerque in 1970 where he served as a chaplain in the New Mexico Guard, worked at Kirtland Credit Union, taught school, and continued working a variety of jobs, including greeting customers at Walmart into his late eighties. Verd is survived by his wife, Alice, and daughters Carol Snarey (John), Eileen Beard (Phil), Sandi Wetzel (son-in-law, Charles, preceded him in death), Deanna Back (Roy), thirteen grandchildren, and thirteen great-grandchildren. Daughter Jeanine Elterman preceded him in death. Verd will always be remembered for his wit and many jokes, beautiful tenor voice, love of cars and airplanes, gentleness with animals, concern for those ill or suffering, humble servant’s heart, and most of all his faith in Jesus Christ, which he lived out with integrity and hope. Friends may visit FRENCH- Wyoming, Wednesday, January 28, 2015, 5:00p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Services will be held Thursday, January 29, 2015, 11:00 a.m. at Chester T. French Memorial Mausoleum Chapel, with burial to follow at Sunset Memorial Park. Both at 924 Menaul Blvd. NE.

Verd Vasco Dunn

March 13, 1921 - January 22, 2015