Vera Woffinden

Vera Woffinden - 07/15/2002 Vera Woffinden - 07/15/2002 VERA WOFFINDEN IONA, ID -- Vera Ione Longhurst Woffinden, 88, of Iona, died July 11, 2002, of causes incident to age. She was born December 7, 1913, at Iona, to Joseph Longhurst and Josephine Ione Hain Longhurst. Her father was a farmer and watermaster in Iona. She had a hip problem as a young child that required her to wear a brace and use crutches, delaying her schooling. Her father made many trips with her to Salt Lake for her medical care. On February 19, 1932, she married Arthur John Woffinden. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. They made their home in and around the Lincoln area, where she was a homemaker and mother. One of her early jobs was feeding the railroad crew a big dinner each day. During World War II she and her husband worked at Hill Air Base and their two children stayed with their grandparents. She was willing to do anything to improve her skills and was always there to help anyone in need and never let her continued hip problems stop her. They later moved to Seaside, Oregon, where her husband worked at the Astoria Naval Base repairing ships and she worked at various jobs. When it rained her husband was out of work, so they got a commercial clam digging license and dug razor clams for income. Vera became noted for her ability to dig and clean clams and serve a delicious clam meal. Their next move was to Kennewick, Washington, where she worked in the asparagus fields and grape vineyards. An active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she served as a Sunday School teacher and in the Relief Society as Stake Work Director and Visiting Teacher. When her husband became Financial Secretary for the Carpenters Union she was able to stay home and spend more time on her quilt making hobby. Through the years she had bought many yards and scraps of material and dreamed of having a quilt shop and making quilts. After a failed hip operation at the age of 55, she again had to use crutches, until her death. In 1980 they retired to her parents' home in Iona, where she added a room just for quilting. She made special quilts for all of her children and grandchildren and many friends. Friends and relatives would stop in for a quilting bee and good time. After her husband’s death on April 29, 1987, she continued to make quilts with her cousin, Ruth Anderson, of Idaho Falls. Surviving are:Son: Arthur Jerry Woffinden, Cypress, CADaughter: Rita Robertson, Indianapolis, INBrother: J. William Longhurst, IonaSister: Erma Josephine Jorda, Niceville, FL 7 Grandchildren, 19 Great Grandchildren, 1 Great Great GranddaughterShe is preceded in death by her husband and a brother, Victor Longhurst, who was killed in World War II. Funeral Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 20, 2002, at the Iona LDS Stake Center, Ririe Highway & Iona Road, with Bishop Michael Long of the Iona 5th Ward officiating. The family will visit with friends for one hour prior to the services on Saturday at the church. Burial will be in Iona Cemetery under the direction of Wood Funeral Home, 273 North Ridge Avenue, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83402-4092. Phone: (208) 522-2751 FAX: (208) 522-5413 If you would like to offer your condolences fill in the form below. Name E-Mail Message [ Previous Obituary - Dolores Reinhold McMurtrey | Current Obituary | Next Obituary - Leota DeFord ]