OAKWOOD – Verda Ellen Leatherman, 102, of Oakwood went to her heavenly home surrounded by her loving son and grandchildren on June 2, 2019 at Paulding County Hospital. She was born the youngest of seven children to Pearl Harmon and Mary (Leatherman) Taylor in Paulding County, November 16, 1916. She graduated from Oakwood High School in 1936. She married John Leatherman on November 16, 1936. John passed away June 14, 1984.
Verda was most proud of her faith in God and her family. She is survived by her son, John (Donna) Leatherman, Jr. of Oakwood; 13 grandchildren, Jeff (Barb) Leatherman, Barry Leatherman, Ron (Deb) Leatherman, Jr., Amy (Phil) Young, Josie (Mike) Dean, Roger (Kelly) Leatherman all of Defiance, Beth (Wayne) Starrett of Holland, David (Julie) Grant of Angola, IN, Lori (Todd) Allen of Continental, Diana (Greg) Lowe of Galena, Karen (Mike) Hosinski of Osceola, IN, Frank (Deb) Leatherman of Oakwood, Nathan (Linda) Leatherman of Ft. Jennings; 34 great-grandchildren; and 21 great-great grandchildren and one on-the-way.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, JoAnn Grant on September 5, 2008; her son, Ronald Leatherman on September 5, 2008; and her siblings, Vanda Stirn, Verdean Clay, Valera Morris, Vernellus Taylor, Verture Taylor, and Vance Taylor.
Verda worked for Paul’s Five and Dime in Continental and then became a housewife and mother to Ronald, JoAnn and John, Jr. She also was known as a local artist who painted watercolors, china, and murals on local businesses during holidays. Several of her works appear in churches and buildings in the area. She was an avid bowler and loved to sing and harmonize to music. Verda played the piano for many years at the Auglaize Chapel Church of God, Oakwood for which she was a lifelong member. She was also a member of the Tress of Life of P Buckley Moss, the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), the Oakwood Library, Defiance Society of Artists, and the John Paulding Museum.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, June 7, 2019 at Auglaize Chapel Church of God in Oakwood with Pastors Stuart Wyatt, Stan Harmon, and Bob Merriman officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at HEITMEYER FUNERAL HOME, Oakwood and from 10 a.m. until the service on Friday at the church. Memorials may be made to the Auglaize Chapel Church of God.
Condolences can be expressed at: www.heitmeyerfuneralhome.com.
