Verna Sylvia (Silbaugh) Buttke, was welcomed home by her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on February 27, 2014 at the age of 101. She was born June 3, 1912 to Charles and Lila (Caldwell) Silbaugh in Caldwell, Idaho. Verna, Jack, Fayne and Virginia were raised by their godly grandmother Mahala “Granny” Caldwell and Aunt and Uncle Caldwell. The Idaho family migrated to Seattle in her senior year of high school where she graduated from Roosevelt High School. She attended the University of Washington and was the assistant secretary to the Dean of Liberal Arts. She met her husband Arthur at Mission Beach near Marysville, Washington. They came to Arizona in 1949 and were married 64 ½ years when he passed away in 2002. Art was a successful produce broker in Phoenix and she was the secretary to Principal Phillips at Montebello Elementary School in the Alhambra School District. Upon retirement, she volunteered at The Center for the Blind helping women to sew and was actively involved in her church. She is survived by sister Fayne (McCaffray) Loew, Seattle, son A.Grant Buttke (Lucille) of Phoenix, daughters Gail A. Eberle (Don) of Cottonwood and Lila M. Harris (Richard) of Flagstaff. She was blessed with 11 grandchildren, 36 great grandchildren, 11 great-great grandchildren and 1 great-great-great grandchild. Celebration of her life will be held March 7, 2014 at 11:00 am at her loving church, Covenant of Grace, 906 W. Peoria Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85029. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to Hospice of the Valley. Please visit www.phoenixmemorialmortuary.com to leave condolences for her family.
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