Velma Genevieve Sherwood's Obituary
SHERWOOD [Clark], Velma G., a joyful, people-loving woman who served all those she met, age 82, of Lebanon, Ohio, passed away peacefully into the arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, on Sunday, September 10, 2023, while a patient at the Otterbein Senior Life Community Skilled Nursing Facility.
Velma was the only child born to Blanche and Harold Clark on December 5, 1940. She graduated in 1958 from Pleasant High School in Marion, Ohio. In 1961, she graduated from White Cross Hospital School of Nursing, which is now Riverside Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. While there, she met and married David Lee Sherwood in May 1962. Soon after marrying, Velma and Dave relocated to Washington DC, where he had been activated for the Berlin Crisis. Velma Worked at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, which was a federal psychiatric hospital. There, she realized she loved mental health care and met one of her closest friends, Doris. She retired as an ANCC board-certified mental health nurse from Perry Point Veteran’s Administration after 25 years of service to veterans with mental illness. She and Dave moved 14 times during their marriage, but her heart was always in Buckeye Country, where she was an only child and her cousins Janet, Jackie, Ilene, and many other relatives lived.
Outgoing, talkative, and positive, Velma immensely enjoyed giving to others. She had attempted golf along the way, but her passion was serving the Lord by serving others. She also loved reading books, writing calligraphy, and spending time with her grandchildren. While living in Maryland, before returning to Ohio, she served as a lay reader, parish nurse, and grief share leader at the Bel Air United Methodist Church. She had a volunteering spirit, and in the course of 48 years, used her skills in calligraphy in her many roles as a member of Beta Sigma Phi, which, not surprisingly, is a service sorority whose members raise more than $3 million for local charities and donate over 200,000 volunteer hours per year. Velma loved taking friends to the grocery store and reading to those who could not read due to vision loss and always shared her time, money, and resources to meet the needs of others. Her generosity was endless. She had a great interest in children and provided Christ-centered education and services to many in need through Compassion International, where she supported several girls in countries such as Nepal and Sri Lanka. Among many things, she will be remembered for her kind, gentle, accepting spirit toward all she met and the secrets she kept without judgment as a confidant and friend. Velma enjoyed traveling with Dave, taking cruises to Alaska and Hawaii, and spending several summers in Maine with dear friends.
Velma gave until the end and even donated her remains to the Wright State Boonshoft School of Medicine. She was preceded in death by her parents, Blanche and Harold Clark, and her husband of 58 years, David L. Sherwood. Velma is survived by her daughter, State Representative Jennifer Sherwood (Chris) Gross of West Chester; her son, Christopher Clark Sherwood of Maryland; her son, Jeffery David Sherwood of South Korea; and two grandsons, Christian and Joshua Gross.
The memorial service to celebrate Velma’s life will be held on October 14 at Otterbein Community Church Chapel/Multipurpose Room on the Otterbein Campus Center of Otterbein Senior Life at 585 North State Route 741, Lebanon, OH 45036. Visitation begins at 10 am, and service will be held at 11 am, with light refreshments to follow at noon. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Otterbein Benevolent Fund, 580 State Rt. 741, Lebanon, Ohio 45036 or Beta Sigma Phi Sorority Xi Lambda Pi Chapter, 4375 Burnham Woods Dr. Franklin, OH 45005.
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