Velda was service minded, helping and volunteering anyway she could. She was a “worker,” strong and feisty. She was awarded the “City of Plano Living Treasure” in 1996 for her civic activities and volunteer work.
Usually going by her given name, her dad called her Dolly and her Basketball coach called her “Hoddy”. Graduating high school at 16, she started teachers college and teaching school in a one room school house for grades 1st- 8th in Missouri. After teaching several years she moved to Southern California and worked in the Orange groves and Aircraft prior to WWII. She found her niches in the school cafeteria system. She worked in the kitchen and later worked up to Head of Food Service Palmdale ISD. She was a wonderful cook and master baker of snickerdoodle cookies. Where after many years she retired. She had many interests, volunteering, visiting the ill and the elderly. She loved to crochet and made and donated to many. Velda was an avid letter writer and reader especially her Bible. She loved to recall first getting electricity, indoor plumbing, and a telephone. In the ‘40s she and Pat visited the Santa Monica Pier where they enjoyed dancing to the “Big Bands.”
She loved telling her family stories of swimming in the river, wiener roasts in the pasture, skating on the frozen pond and winter sleigh rides. Velda was a member of Meadow Baptist Church since 1989 where she loved her pastor Scott. She volunteered in many ways, working in the nursery, the kitchen, volunteering in the office and with her TEL Sunday school class. These were her favorite activities.
Velda married “Pat” F.W. Murphy in 1941 in Las Vegas. They were married until his death in 1981. They met while they were both working in the Orange Groves, packing oranges in California.
Velda is survived by her daughter Nancy Berg and son in law Tom of Plano, TX; grandson Patrick Berg and his wife Emily of Goldthwaite, TX; grandson Alan Murphy and his wife Jen of South Milwaukee, Wisconsin; granddaughter Heidi Berg of Ft. Worth, TX; great grandchildren, Sophia and Brayden Murphy, Tackett and Stockton Berg, sister Iris Dowell of Buena Park, California and a multitude of nieces and nephews!
She is preceded in death by parents John and Genetta Hodson, husband Pat Murphy, brothers Othel, George, John, Ed, and Bobby; sisters Twila, Juanita, Cora, Essie, Jessie, Myrtal, and Flora.
Arrangements under the direction of Ted Dickey Funeral Home, Plano, TX.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18