Memorials › Verna Mae Kimbrough Riddle
Verna Mae Kimbrough Riddle
29 Aug 1932 – 26 Oct 2020
| Birth | 29 Aug 1932 |
| Death | 26 Oct 2020 |
| Cemetery | Klein Memorial Park Pinehurst , Montgomery County , Texas , USA |
| Added by | Paula Norris Pierce on 03 Nov 2022 |
| FaG | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/245317836 |
Bio
Verna Mae Kimbrough Riddle was born in Mineral Wells, Texas on August 29, 1930 to William (Bill) Kimbrough, 26, and Maggie Mae Warren Kimbrough, 21. The couple named their first child for Bill's sister, Verna, and for mother Maggie. In 1941, the Kimbrough family relocated to Wichita Falls after Bill accepted a position as an aircraft crash firefighter at Sheppard Air Force Base. Verna was nine at the time, sister Billie, age 7, and baby brother Reg approaching his first birthday. Verna completed her education in Wichita Falls, graduating from Wichita Falls High School in 1947. Upon graduation, Verna enrolled in Draughon's Business College. In 1948, she earned her credential as a legal secretary. While attending business college, she met Leona Riddle, who was also enrolled in the program. Leona's brother, Charles, was quite taken with the beautiful and vivacious Verna. Verna always told it that she accepted a date with Charles only as a favor to her friend, Leona. In fact, Verna said that Charles "got fresh" on their first date, and tried to kiss her, for which he was rewarded with a slap. Charles was undeterred, however, and the couple soon fell in love. Verna soon realized that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with Charles. They shared 43 wonderful years together. After tying the knot on September 10, 1949, the couple boarded the train to Houston. There, Charles attended University of Texas School of Dentistry and Verna went to work as an executive secretary for the Vice President of Gulf Oil. It was during this time that Verna and Shirley Bills Maxwell met in the young marrieds Sunday School class at Central Church of Christ. These two forged a deep, lifelong friendship, and were, by choice, next door neighbors not once, but twice—on both Thornton and Lehman Streets. Shirley and Verna continued to speak by phone daily until Shirley's passing in 2007. Verna's brother, Reg, describes Verna as being very much like their mother, Maggie, in priority and temperament. "Mother and Verna were both dedicated wives and mothers. Family was always first for them. Mother was a woman of stamina, always able to look and think forward, and so was my sister." This was clearly evidenced after Verna suffered a brain hemorrhage at the age of 31 that left her paralyzed. She was advised by her doctors that she would be wheelchair bound for life, but Verna was determined to take care of her family and home, and eventually learned how to walk again. Though she suffered permanent disability on her left side, she reclaimed a normal life—caring for her husband and children, enjoying her home, driving the kids to school and other activities, remaining active in the church, and participating in social activities. Verna was an avid Astros fan, a mean Scrabble player, and a serious contender at the couple's monthly 42 parties. She had a great sense of humor, and the grace to laugh at herself. Verna loved to hum and sing, even though she often said that "she couldn't carry a tune in a paper bag." She was not one to let anything stop her from doing the things she loved and valued. At the very top of that list is her family—four children and their spouses, twelve grandchildren and their spouses, and twenty great grandchildren. Through them, she leaves a lasting legacy of family values, soul deep commitment, a foundation of faith, and an example of grit and adaptability in the face of life's challenges.
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