Verona Violet Dotson ^{2 3 4}

  Noted events in her life were:

• Census, 1910, Wapello Township, Louisa County, Iowa. ⁷ Verona V. Dotson, daughter, female, white, age 3, single, born in Iowa, father born in Iowa, mother born in Iowa, spoke English

• Census, 1920, Morning Sun Township, Louisa County, Iowa. ⁶ Verona V. Dotson, daughter, female, white, age 13, single, attended school during year, could read and write English, born in Iowa, father born in Iowa, mother born in Iowa, occupation none

• Iowa State Census, 1925, New London, Henry County, Iowa. ⁸ Verona Walker, wife, female, white, age 19, married, number of years in the U.S.: 19, number of years in Iowa: 19, attended high school, state highest grade (9-12): 10, could read, could write, place of birth: Iowa, name of father: Oscar B. Dotson, father's birthplace: Iowa, father's age at last birthday: 44, name of mother: Edythe Baxter, mother's birthplace: Iowa, mother's age at last birthday: 43, place of marriage of parents: Iowa, occupation involved with domestic/personal services, church affiliation: Methodist Episcopal Church

• Newspaper Article/Notice: The Davenport Democrat and Leader, August 30, 1928, Davenport, Scott County, Iowa. ⁹ Dotson Family Reunion Held; 86 Are Present

Wapello, Ia., Aug. 30. -- The tenth annual reunion of the Dotson-Davison families was held Tuesday, August 28, at the Mediapolis chautauqua grounds, with 86 relatives present. Shortly after the noon hour a short program was given. Prof. Ware Stephens, of St. Louis, was to have given a talk but since he was unable to be present, he sent a very enjoyable paper which was read by Dev. C. E. Coggeshall. Professor Stephens paid tribute to the pioneer familes, the ancestors of those present at the reunion. This paper was followed by a talk by Reverend B. G. Hankins, of Wapello. He too, spoke of the earlier day and of the flood of recollections that each reunion brings.

The program was followed by a business meeting at which time the following officers were elected for the coming years: President, T. A. Dotson; vice president, Harry Dotson; secretary and treasurer, Miss Martha Peters.

Those present from a distance were: Mr. and Mrs. Frank Barns and daughter, Esther, of Burlington; Mr. George B. Hamilton of Chicago, Illinois; Edith Barns, Blair and husband, of Crete, Nebraska; Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Dotson, Max, and Virginia, of New London; Verona Dotson Walker and children Maizie and Vera, of New London; Ina Jamison Willson and children, Robert and Mary Louise, of Muscatine, Iowa.

• Census, 1930, New London, Henry County, Iowa. ¹⁰ Verona V. Walker, wife-H, female, white, age 23, married, age when first married 18, did not attend school during the previous year, could read and write, born in Iowa, father born in Iowa, mother born in Iowa, state code 65, could speak English, no occupation

• City Directory: Polk's Burlington (Des Moines County, Iowa) City Directory, 1957, Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa. ¹¹ Mrs. Verona V. Walker, packer at Midwest Bakery, residence at 121 Leffler (West Burlington).

• Birthday Announcement: The Hawk Eye, June 2, 2001, Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa. ¹² Verona Walker will celebrate her 95th birthday June 6.

A card shower is planned. Family and friends may send a card to Verona Walker, Scotland County Care Center, Memphis, Missouri 63555.

• Birthday Announcement: The New London Journal, May 18, 2006, New London, Henry County, Iowa. ¹³ Verona Walker of Memphis, Missouri, and formerly of New London and West Burlington, will celebrate her 100th birthday June 6 with a card shower hosted by her daughters, Jean Brunk and Vera Virden. Cards may be addressed to Verona V. Walker, Scotland County Care Center, Route 1, Box 52, Memphis, Missouri 63555.

• Personal Recollection. ² (Personal recollections of Dennis Brumm:)

When I was young I was told the following story by my mother, Hattie "Leota" Brumm. In the old days in New London, when indoor plumbing had not yet gained wide acceptance or use, Verona walked out to the outhouse in the backyard one morning and found a real surprise. Their house was not far from the CB&Q railroad tracks, and some man had escaped from the Mt. Pleasant asylum 7 miles west of New London, followed the tracks to New London, and decided to do his business in the Walker outhouse. Verona was evidently quite surprised by this turn of events.

-Dennis Brumm

• Obituary: The Hawk Eye, January 13, 2006, Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa. ⁴ Verona Violet Dotson Walker, 100, of Memphis, Missouri, formerly of New London, died Friday, January 12, 2007, at the Scotland County Care Center in Memphis.

Born June 6, 1906, in Newport, she was the daughter of Oscar and Edith Virginia Baxter Dotson. She married George Percy Walker on November 1, 1924, in Burlington. He died June 24, 1985.

She attended Bethel country schools. She was a homemaker and worked for 10 years at Midwest Biscuit Company in Mount Pleasant (sic: West Burlington). Most of her married life was spent living in New London. She was of the Methodist faith. She was a member of the Senior Citizens Club in New London and the Thursday Afternoon Pinochle Club. She enjoyed fishing, hunting for mushrooms, gardening and going on country drives. Her many hobbies included crocheting, knitting, card games, bingo and participating in senior activities.

Survivors include two daughters, Jean Brunk and Vera Virden both of Kahoka, Missouri; eight grandchildren; eight step-grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; 14 step-great-grandchildren; 17 great-great-grandchildren; and one sister, Geneva Gilmore of Cedar Rapids.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one daughter, one grandchild and seven brothers.

Visitation will start at 9 a.m. Monday at Elliott Chapel in New London. Family will meet with friends on hour prior to the time of service.

Funeral services for Mrs. Walker will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Elliott Chapel, with the Reverend Rod Cooper officiating. Burial will be in the Elmwood Cemetery in Morning Sun, Iowa.

A memorial has been established for New London Senior Citizens Club.

• Funeral Announcement: The Hawk Eye, January 14, 2007, Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa. ¹⁴ Funeral services for Mrs. Verona V. Walker, 100, who died Friday, January 12, 2007, will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday at Elliott Chapel, New London. Pastor Rod Cooper will officiate. Interment will be in Elmwood Cemetery, Morning Sun. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. Monday, and the family will receive friends one hour prior to the time of service. A memorial has been established for the New London Senior Citizens.

Entrusted to Elliott Chapel's Care, New London

• Social Security Administration Information. ¹⁵ Verona V. Walker; born: 6 June 1906; died: 12 January 2007 (V); last residence: 63555 (Memphis, Scotland, Missouri); last benefit: (none specified); state where issued: Iowa

Verona married George Percy Walker, son of Samuel Nathaniel "Sam" Walker and Hattie Mae "Harriett" Moyers, on November 1, 1924 in Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa.¹ (George Percy Walker was born on April 20, 1896 in Abingdon, Knox County, Illinois,⁵ died on June 24, 1985 at New London Nursing and Rehab, New London, Henry County, Iowa ⁵ and was buried on June 27, 1985 in the Elmwood Cemetery, Morning Sun, Louisa County, Iowa ^{1 16 17}.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• Newspaper Article/Notice: The Davenport Democrat and Leader, August 25, 1925, Davenport, Scott County, Iowa. ¹⁸ Wapello, Ia., Aug. 25. -- The seventh annual reunion of the Davison and Dotson families was held at Chautauqua park in Mediapolis Saturday, with 118 present. The event was featured by a picnic dinner at the noon hour, ice cream and watermelons being served. The afternoon was spent with sports and contests.

During the business session, officers for the coming year were elected as follows: Mrs. George R. Deihl, Wapello, president; I. M. Jamison, Morning Sun, vice president; Mrs. Henry Meyerholz, Wapello, secretary and treasure; committee on grounds and arrangements: W. D. Peters, W. S. Bailey, Wapello, John Blake, Mediapolis; committee on refreshments; Mrs. Frank Hamilton., Mrs. George Mellinger, Mrs. H. L. Davison, Wapello, Mrs. I. M. Jamison, Morning Sun.

In addition to those present from Wapello, Morning Sun, Oakville and Mediapolis were Mrs. Frank Barnes, Esther Barnes, George Meyers, Velda Dotson of WEllington: Mr. and Mrs. T. R. Dotson, Max Dotson, Mr. and Mrs. George Walker of New London; Mrs. Clara A. Decker of Harrisonville, Pa.; and Mrs. Harold E. Wilson, Robert and Mary Louise Wilson of Muscatine.

• Residence, February 1933, New London, Henry County, Iowa. ¹⁹

• Residence, May 18, 1936, New London, Henry County, Iowa. ²⁰

• Residence, March 1939, New London, Henry County, Iowa. ²¹

• City Directory: Polk's Burlington (Des Moines County, Iowa) City Directory, 1947, Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa. ²² George Walker (wife Zerona -sic-), electrical welder at the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, householder at 121 Leffler (West Burlington).

• City Directory: Polk's Burlington (Des Moines County, Iowa) City Directory, 1951, Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa. ²³ George Walker (wife Verona V.), welder at the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, householder at 121 Leffler (West Burlington).

• Newspaper Article/Notice: The Morning Sun News-Herald, August 21, 1952, Morning Sun, Louisa County, Iowa. ²⁴ Sunday evening callers at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Walker were Miss Cressie Edgar, Panora, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. George Walker, West Burlington; and Tom Walker, Morning Sun.

• Newspaper Article/Notice: The Morning Sun News-Herald, September 11, 1952, Morning Sun, Louisa County, Iowa. ²⁵ Mr. and Mrs. S. N. Walker were guests over the weekend at the Ted Dotson and Clifford Walker homes in New London, and the George Walker home in West Burlington. Mr. and Mrs. Walker also visited the Wm. Brumm home in New London where they made the acquaintance of a new grandson.

• City Directory: Polk's Burlington (Des Moines County, Iowa) City Directory, 1954, West Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa. ²⁶ George P. Walker (wife Vernon -sic- V.), welder at the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, householder at 121 Leffler (West Burlington).

• City Directory: Polk's Burlington (Des Moines County, Iowa) City Directory, 1955, Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa. ²⁷ George P. Walker (wife Verona), welder at the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, householder at 121 Leffler (West Burlington).

• Residence, July 24, 1956, West Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa. ²⁸

• City Directory, 1957, Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa. ²⁹ George P. Walker (wife Verona V.), welder at the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, householder at 121 Leffler (West Burlington).

• Newspaper Article/Notice: The Hawk-Eye Gazette, 1957, Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa. ³⁰ The Ted Belles and Arnold Brunk families, who are visiting the George Walkers, 121 Leffler, West Burlington, are still amazed at a traveling coincidence they encountered.

Mrs. Belles and Mrs. Brunk, daughters of the Walkers, are visiting here through Christmas with their families.

Mr. and Mrs. Belles and their two children are from Ogden, Utah. Mr. and Mrs. Brunk and their two children are from Salt Lake City, Utah. The Belles's left their home on the Union Pacific and after a 2 hour layover in Omaha, boarded the California Zephyr to complete their trip to Burlington.

The Brunks, meanwhile were also on the California Zephyr.

It wasn't until the two families got off in Burlington that they realized they were both riding the same train from Omaha.

• City Directory: Polk's Burlington (Des Moines County, Iowa) City Directory, 1958, Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa. ³¹ George P. Walker (wife Verona V.), electrician at the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, householder at 121 Leffler (West Burlington).

• City Directory: Polk's Burlington (Des Moines County, Iowa) City Directory, 1959, Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa. ³² George P. Walker (wife Verona V.), electrician at Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, householder at 214 Cottage Grove Avenue (West Burlington).

• City Directory: Polk's Burlington (Des Moines County, Iowa) City Directory, 1960, Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa. ³³ George P. Walker (wife Verona V.), electrician at Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, householder at 214 Cottage Grove Avenue (West Burlington).

• Residence, about 1963, New London, Henry County, Iowa. ² George and Verona Walker moved from West Burlington back to New London, Iowa in about 1963. They bought the house on the "Old Highway 34" nearly at the east edge of town, owned by Franklin Krieger, who had been the high school band director (and was moving to a new job in a different town).

By about 1968 or 1969, they sold the house and acreage on the Old Highway and bought a smaller house on North Pine Street, where they remained until George was moved to the New London nursing home, and later Verona was moved to a nursing home in Kahoka, Missouri, close to their children and grandchildren in the Brunk family.

• Residence, November 1967, New London, Henry County, Iowa. ³⁴

• Gravestone Inscription. ¹⁷ George Percy Walker's gravestone is located in Elmwood Cemetery, Morning Sun, Louisa County, Iowa. The inscription on the stone is: "Walker: Verona V., George P. 1896 - 1985"