Jere, as she was known, was born on March 16, 1930 in Lancaster, PA, the daughter of Christian and Harriett (Drennen) Winnerling. She was a 1948 graduate of Lancaster Catholic High School.
She married her high school sweetheart, Richard Vatter, on February 26, 1949, they have two sons, Richard Vatter, III, of Woodbridge, VA and Stephen of Renton, WA.
Jere led the life of a military wife for the next 22 years making a home for the family while travelling with Dick to Scotland, and five military bases in the U.S. before settling down in Virginia. After military retirement, they travelled throughout most of the U.S. and Europe.
She is a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, ALA, Springfield, VA, Unit 176, twice serving as Unit President and as Dis-trict President managing eighteen Units in Northern Virginia. Jere was selected as the 1967-68 Virginia Lady of the Year, feasted by the National President, ALA. She also served as the ALA National Representative to the Washington DC Veterans Medical Center, accumulating thousands of volunteer hours while working with disabled veterans.
Jere is a Past Aumonier, La Boutique des Huit Chapeaux et Quarte Femmes (8/40), Departmental de Virginia, and as Cha-peau of Rippon Salon 737. She is a member of Bull Run Cabane 380, La Societe de Femme and a life member of VFW Auxiliary Unit 7916, Occoquin, VA.
At the age of 85 she retired after a long history of dedication and service to children and disabled military veterans.
Jere is survived by her husband, sons Richard and wife Patty, Stephen and wife Rebecca, and grandchildren, Justin Vatter and wife Catherine of Austin, TX; Alison of LA, CA; and Jeremy and wife Sofia, of Alexandria, VA.
Funeral services are to be determined.
