Verlie Eugene Bender

Verlie Eugene Taylor Bender, 87, passed away on May 12, 2013. Mrs. Verlie, Gene to most was born in Harrellsville, NC and came to work in Norfolk with her sisters during World War II where she served as a switchboard operator for the phone company on the D Day invasion. Gene to most was a lady of many talents and created beautiful needlework, quilts and even made teddy bears with moving parts. She was a great lover and collector of Teddy Bears and Angels, but her finest accomplishments and what she loved the most were her two sons Michael and Duane. She worked and retired from Borden’s Print Shop in 1989 and soon after had several strokes. Not what anyone would choose for retirement, however she accepted her fate and now nineteen years later she is free of the body that threw her a major curve and cheated her of the fun she had planned. She was preceded in death by a brother and five sisters. She had survived her newly wedded husband being a P.O.W. in WW II, many illnesses, surgery and divorce. She didn’t complain much or speak poorly of people but she was a Southern Belle and on occasion, Scarlet took a stand. She has been a great lady and will be missed by her sons, Michael and his wife Carol and granddaughter Terri Batkin and her children Tiffany and Brandon, Tina Batkin and her children Megan Jeffrey & Brian Crouch, a granddaughter Nancy Doherty Healy and her daughter Lauren; a son, Duane and his wife Pam and the only biological grandchild Shannon Bender who was born after she had her strokes and like her grandmother also loves and collects Teddy Bears. A memorial service will be held at a later date. She was a member of Cornerstone Baptist Church and they never forgot to continue to visit with her. The family would like to acknowledge the loving care provided by Autumn Care of Norfolk over the past thirteen years. Friends may offer condolences at www.smithandwilliamsnorfolk.com.