Vera Mallane

Intelligent, independent, hardworking and organized were a few ways to describe Vera Mallane. In her 93 years of life, Vera saw the world drastically change and found true love that lasted a lifetime and blossomed to have five generations in her family.

With the first motel opening in San Luis Obispo, California; the year 1925 saw many changes with airlines being formed, the Chrysler Corporation was founded, John Logie Baird built the first television transmitter and Scotch tape was invented. The Great Gatsby was published; Sears Robuck opened their first store in Chicago and Mount Rushmore National Monument site was dedicated. That same year, Roy and Grace H. (Highfill) Vines was happy to announce the birth of their daughter, Vera V. Vines on November 13, 1925 in Roanoke, Virginia.

Growing up during the Great Depression, Vera's family moved around several times, living on her father's sister's farm and also operated their own small farm near Lithia, Virginia. Being on the farm helped install being a hard worker. She worked hard while attending school and graduated a year early to start working and establishing her own life. During that time, fate would bring her to meet Philip J. Mallane Jr. He was serving in the U.S. Navy along with one of Vera's brothers, stationed in Norfolk. She and Philip met, fell in love and on June 3, 1944, the two were married in Norfolk.

Work would take the young couple back to Connecticut before moving to Tri-Lakes in Columbia City, Indiana in 1963. Aside from raising her children, Vera worked for over 15 years at Lincoln National Life Insurance in Fort Wayne, retiring in 1980. Following retirement, she and Philip traveled the countryside in their 5th wheel camper. The two knew they would return home after a few years of traveling, so they rented their home on Tri-Lakes out. With wanting to stay busy, Vera worked at the Columbia City Walmart after they settled back home. She worked for over 10 years with Walmart, starting as a door greeter and working in organizing the clothing department and taking the store's phone calls.

While living on the lake, Vera loved being out in the sun to get a tan. She loved to entertain others, cooking, and caring for others. She also loved looking for a good bargain or sale at the store. After Philip passed away on March 22, 2006, Vera began wintering in Florida with her daughter Colette. She moved from Tri-Lakes to Eagle Glenn in Columbia City until moving to Grey Stone Health, Fort Wayne in 2016.

At 3:05 a.m. Friday, September 6, 2019, Vera V. Mallane, 93, passed away unexpectedly. She is survived by her children, Michael (Flo) Mallane, of Lancaster, Cali., Philip (Peggy) Mallane III, of Columbia City, Mark (Linda) Mallane of Goshen, Colette (Stan McGlug) Caputo, of Tampa, Fla., Kathy (Barry) Truman, of Columbia City and Denise Cook, of Syracuse; brother, Lawrence (Eva) Vines, of Buchanan, Va.; 15 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and one great- great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Philip Mallane Jr in 2006; brothers, Harold Vines and Buddy Vines; sisters, Libby Philpott, Annie Garland and Nancy Wirt; four infant children; grandsons, John Mallane and Brady Truman; and an infant great-grandchild.

A gathering of family and friends will be 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, September 11, 2019 at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home. She will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery beside her husband. Memorial contributions in memory of Vera may be made to the donor's choice. Visit www.demoneygrimes.com to send her family condolences online.