Shepherd, Verda Leona Waldridge – 1881-1937

LANE, MILLER, SHEPHERD, WALDRIDGE

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 7/13/2021 at 21:35:40

Mrs. Shepherd Dies in Missouri
Former Newton Resident, Now of Owensburg, Ind. Dies After Long Illness
Mrs. J. C. Shepherd, 54, of Owensburg, Ind., well-known former Newton resident, died Friday night at Eldorado Springs, Mo., where she had been receiving treatment for the last seven weeks. Death was due to a malignant disease.
Mrs. Shepherd was taken ill last fall and came to Newton to the home of her sister, Mrs. L. J. Lane. She underwent an operation in Des Moines and then returned to Newton, where she was cared for in the Lane home until going to Eldorado Springs. She was accompanied to the latter place by Mr. Shepherd, who remained there until her death.
Body to Newton
The body was being brought to Newton to the Murdoch funeral home, where it was expected to arrive this morning. Funeral arrangements have not been made.
Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd lived in Newton for a number of years, before moving to a farm near Owensburg, Ind., about five years ago.
Mrs. Shepherd was formerly state president of the Iowa Service Star Legion and also served as secretary-treasurer of the state organization. She was a member of the Newton Service Star group.
Mrs. Shepherd was also a member of the First Christian church of Newton and of the Rowena Circle, local social group.
O.E.S. Past Matron
After moving to Indiana, she joined the Owensburg chapter of Eastern Star and had served as worthy matron of the group.
Surviving relatives are her husband; two sons, Arthur and Vaughn Shepherd of Newton; two grandsons, Daughn J. and James Kendall Shepherd; and her mother, Mrs. Mary Waldridge of Springville, Ind.
She is also survived by two sisters, Mrs. Lane of Newton and Mrs. Allen Miller of Owensburg, Ind., and two brothers, W. M. Waldridge of Springville, Ind., and Lester Waldridge of Waterloo.
Source: Newton Daily News; Saturday, February 20, 1937

Plan Rites For Mrs. Shepherd Here Wednesday
Funeral services for Mrs. J. C. Shepherd, 54, of Owensburg, Ind., former Newton resident, will be conducted from the Murdoch funeral home Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. by Dr. John W. Bickett of the United Presbyterian church. Interment will be here.
The Service Star Legion, of which Mrs. Shepherd was a past state president, will attend the rites and assist with the funeral service. Rowena Circle members will also attend in a body.
Mrs. Shepherd died Friday night at Eldorado Springs, Mo., where she had been receiving treatment for a malignant disease for the last seven weeks.
Source: Newton Daily News; Monday, February 22, 1937

Hold Rites For Mrs. Shepherd
Services Conducted in Newton For Owensburg, Ind., Woman
Funeral services for Mrs. J. C. Shepherd, 54, of Owensburg, Ind., former Newton resident, were conducted from the Murdoch funeral home Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. by Dr. John W. Bickett, pastor of the United Presbyterian church.
The Newton Service Star Legion, of which Mrs. Shepherd was a member and a past state president, assisted with the services.
Music was furnished by Mrs. F. E. McClean and Cecil Taylor, who sang, “Face to Face” and “He is So Precious to Me,” accompanied at the piano by Mrs. E. C. Sabins, Lois Hundling presided at the organ.
Obituary and Poem
An obituary, written by Mrs. James W. Hunter, was read by Dr. Bickett and an original poem in memory of Mrs. Shepherd was presented by Mrs. T. J. Kating.
Interment was in the Newton Union cemetery, with the following serving as pallbearers: Grant Carney, Leroy D. Davis, Piercy Brown, H W. Brewer, Hobart Cammack and Frank B. Lower.
Mrs. Lon Woodruff, Mrs. Cecil Clement and Alta Page were in charge of the flowers.
Both the Service Star Legion and Rowena Circle attended the services as groups.
From Out-of-Town
Those attending from away were Mr. Shepherd of Owensburg, Ind., and George Waldridge, Mr. and Mrs. C. R. Staff, Mrs. H. C. Staff and Mrs. H. V. Combs, all of Des Moines.
Verda Leona Shepherd, daughter of George and Mary Waldridge was born in Bloomington, Ind., March 20, 1881, and died at Eldorado Springs, Mo., Feb. 19.
She was married to J. C. Shepherd Jan. 6, 1913, at Terre Haute, Ind., coming with her husband to Newton soon afterward, where they made their home for 20 years. Five years ago, they went back to Indiana to a 200-acre farm belonging to the family at the edge of the town of Owensburg.
When Mrs. Shepherd first came to Newton she affiliated with the Christian church, but attended the United Presbyterian church. She was a conscientious worker.
Service Star Officer
She was an ardent member of the Service Star Legion, serving as head of the local unit and in the capacity of secretary-treasurer and president of the Iowa state organization.
She was a member of the Margaret Rebekah lodge of Newton and had served as worthy matron of the Eastern Star chapter at Owensburg, Ind.
Surviving are her husband, J. C. Shepherd of Owensburg; two stepsons, Arthur and Vaughn Shepherd of Newton; two grandsons, Daughn and James Kendall Shepherd of Newton; two sisters, Mrs. Lloyd Lane of Newton and Mrs. Allen Miller of Owensburg, Ind.; her mother, Mrs. Mary Waldridge of Springville, Ind., and two brothers, W. M. Waldridge of Springville, Ind., and Lester Waldridge of Waterloo. Her father, George Waldridge, died 40 years ago.
Source: Newton Daily News; Thursday, February 25, 1937