Verla Leona Darginis' Obituary
Verla Darginis, age 92, passed away peacefully in her sleep Sunday evening, November 8, 2015, at Brookdale assisted living facility in Tucson where she had resided the past three years.
Verla Leona Orrison was the fifth of eleven children born to Roy Herbert and Gladys Belle (Payne) Orrison. She was born April 30, 1923, in Bush, Illinois, and grew up in Centralia, Illinois.
She married Joseph Paul Darginis on March 1, 1942, in St. Louis, Missouri, while he was in the Army Air Corps during World War II. They lived in Waverly, Ohio, several years then relocated to Livermore, California, where Joe was a metallurgist at Sandia National Laboratories for over 30 years. They came to Arizona in 1994.
Verla created a lovely home for Joe and herself. She was a gifted cook and served as hostess to countless neighborhood and family events and parties. She loved to decorate the house and prepare wonderful meals for every holiday. Before her health began to fail she was a regular at St. Elizabeth Seton Church Bingo nights, and always liked a rousing game of pinochle, oh hell, or 500 rummy with family and friends.
Verla is survived by two sisters, Bonneva J. Stroud of Germantown, Illinois and L. Jean Nichols of Mansfield, Ohio. She is survived by her nephew Mark E. Griffiths, and nieces Lori Griffiths Brummett and Jean Ellen Sargent Connes, all of Tucson. Verla is also survived by numerous other nephews, nieces, great-nieces, and great-nephews scattered across the country.
Joe passed away in Tucson December 27, 2004. She was preceded in death by her parents and by two infant siblings, Dorothy Helen Orrison and James William Orrison. She was also predeceased by three sisters: H. Muriel Atchison of Ashland, Ohio, JoAnn Griffiths Sargent of Tucson, Patsy S. Orrison of San Antonio, and by three brothers: Herbert F. Orrison of Tucson, Robert S. Orrison of San Antonio, and Jerry L. Orrison of Hutchinson, Kansas. She leaves behind many dear friends and former neighbors in Tucson and Livermore. She often reminisced about the good times she and Joe had through the years with their friends and neighbors.
Verla requested cremation and no services. Burial will be beside Joe at the Ohio Western Reserve National Military Cemetery in Rittman, Ohio.
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