Veloa Montgomery Christian

Veloa was born in Clark County, Illinois, on July 13, 1921, to David Alexander and Blanche Clapp Montgomery. She grew up on a farm with six brothers and a sister. She lived in town while attending Martinsville High School, where she served as freshman class president and as an officer for her senior year.

After she graduated from high school, her brother, Doit, invited her to come live in New York City, where she met the man who became her husband, DeLos Christian, on October 3, 1942. He served as a meteorologist in the Army Air Corps during World War II. They began raising a family after the war ended, and in 1952 he was recruited as an actuary by the Life Insurance Company of Virginia. They moved to Richmond, Virginia, where he eventually became executive vice-president of Richmond Corporation.

Veloa found joy in children and raising a family, making birthday celebrations special, trips pleasurable, and daily life easier. She was devoted to her husband and children and remained close to her siblings and their children.

Veloa’s faith grounded her, and she spent many hours serving the church and the presbytery.

Veloa was an avid traveler, and insatiable wanderlust led to many trips throughout the United States, and to treks in Canada, Mexico, Central America, Europe, and China. Together with family, she made frequent visits to Williamsburg, Virginia; Nags Head, North Carolina; her parents’ home in southern Illinois for family reunions; and her beloved New York City.

Veloa was quite the storyteller. Often these tales revealed her adventurous spirit. For example, she spoke proudly of the blind horse her parents gave her to ride to school. She marveled that her parents would trust a blind horse with their daughter, but that horse knew exactly where it was and where she wanted it to go. And never ever did that horse allow another horse to outrun it.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, and siblings, and is survived by four children and their spouses: son, Ken Arden Christian, and wife, Evelyn, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida; daughter, Dr. Rose Ann Christian, and husband, Dr. Tony Ungar, of Baltimore, Maryland; son, Dale Allen Christian, and wife, Patricia, of Richmond, Virginia; daughter, Dr. Cheryl Lynn Christian, and husband, Samuel Henderson, of Hutto, Texas. Survivors include her granddaughter, April Weiser and husband, David, of New Orleans; grandson, Brandon Christian, and wife, Sarah, of West Grove Pennsylvania; great-grandchildren, Madeline Weiser, Savannah Weiser, Arden Weiser, Skylar Christian, and Taylor Christian; and step-grandchildren, Kim Hansen, Matthew Henderson, Bryan Henderson, and Elizabeth Reeves. Survivors also include many nieces and nephews and their families.

Veloa’s children are grateful for the many kindnesses family and friends have shown her over the years. She delighted in their visits, letters, cards, phone calls, and gifts.