Vernia Virginia Dyer

Vernia Virginia Abbott Dyer was born to Oda and Grover Cleveland Abbott. She was one of eight children in a farming family that lived in or around Pell City and Vincent, Alabama. She met O C Dyer, the love of her life, in Vincent and when her sweetheart went to war in 1943 she moved from the farm by her self (as a 16 years old young woman) to Birmingham, Alabama to work.

While working in Birmingham,Virginia took technical training courses and, after completing her training, worked for the Betchel McCone Parsons Airplane Modification Center at the Birmingham airport as a wiring technician on B24 bombers. She worked as a technician until the end of World War II. She was proud of her contribution to the war effort as a Rosie the Riveter and even as a senior citizen stayed in touch with other women that also worked as Rosie the Riveters.

After the war Virginia married O C Dyer and they raised three children in the West End neighborhood of Birmingham. While O C worked in the steel mill, Virginia took care of the children and home. She not only maintained a loving home for her children but also made her home welcome to other children of the neighborhood. She also served as a PTA president and Room Mother.

Virginia was a woman of many talents. She was a skilled and masterful seamstress and excellent cook.. She cooked too many great dishes to mention but her German Chocolate Orange cake stands out as a favorite (it was just delicious and can’t seem to be duplicated). Virginia also possessed a tremendous work ethic. She kept her home spotless and she spent many hours processing and canning vegetables from the family garden. She enjoyed planting flowers and beautifying her yard, and she was always willing to lend a helping hand to family members and friends.

While working hard, Virginia also enjoyed life. She and O C were active square dancers. They enjoyed traveling to reunions of O C’s Army Air Corp unit. They had close friends that regularly enjoyed nights of cards and some that dropped by for homemade biscuits and gravy. She was a dedicated Alabama football fan. She volunteered as a Back Stage Mom for the Miss Alabama pageant for 25 years. Even after 80 years of age she enjoyed line dancing, going on a cruise with the Pelham senior center, and participating with the Weatherly garden club.

As Virginia physically moved through her life from West End to Irondale to Alabaster, she always maintained a relationship with the church from Berney Points Baptist to Crestway Baptist to Liberty Park Baptist to Pelham First Baptist. She loved to volunteer and attend Bible studies.

We would like to thank the host of friends and caretakers that helped keep her laughing and tending her bird feeders and flowers for the last 9 years of her life.

Children - Bobby Dyer - now deceased, Ralph Dyer (LaNiece) and Lynne Dyer Bullock (Ed)

Grandchildren - Jennifer Dyer Compere (Collins), Bryan Dyer, Chris Bullock (Beth), Jason Bullock Wes Bullock (Blair) and Zach Bullock

Great Grandchildren – Emma Kathryn Compere Brint (Mason), Stuart Compere, Avery Dyer, Hailey Bullock, Madelyn Bullock, Ann Marshall Bullock, Hilton Virginia Bullock

In lieu of flowers we ask that donations be made to:First Baptist Church Pelham, 2867 Pelham Parkway, Pelham. Alabama 35124

Services will be on Saturday, August 16, 2025 at Kilgroe Funeral Home, 1750 Ashville Road Leeds, Alabama 35094

Visitation at 10:00 AM and services at 11:00 AM followed by graveside services at Forest Crest Cemetery.