A Tribute to the Former "First Lady of West Neck Marina"

It was 1975, when William G. (Bill) Brown and his lovely wife, Veradell, realized a dream come true and bought West Neck Marina in the Pungo section of Virginia Beach.

That purchase concluded 35 years of moving to every corner of the United States, including Alaska, as they followed Bill's construction jobs. They lived at West Neck Marina for more than 22 years before selling the property to David and Teresa Winfree and retiring to a new home on Princess Anne Road in Virginia Beach.

After Bill's death in 2003, Veradell moved to Atlantic Shores Retirement Community, and then in 2013, she relocated to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, both also in Virginia Beach.

Her love of books and reading led Veradell to volunteer work at Pungo-Blackwater Library, where she performed more than 1,000 hours of service between 1991 and 2005. For that service, she was honored with a Certificate of Recognition from the city's Office of Volunteer Resources. Her fondest memories of that time was finding her favorite book, "The Christmas Box." It was among some new arrivals she was recording one day.

It wasn't unusual to find
Veradell, dressed here in
Red Hat Society attire,
at the annual Pungo
Strawberry Festival.

Veradell also spent six years volunteering in the gift shop at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital. She and Bill further attended Charity United Methodist Church in Pungo for many years, where she helped in the kitchen when they had meals. She loved her Sunday School class and went on many trips with members of the class.

"A wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, and friend"--that's how some folks remember Veradell. "She was a kind and gentle person," said others.

All can agree that the 92-year-old Veradell will be sorely missed since entering into eternal rest this past Friday, Dec. 18th. Left to cherish her memories are her children, Judy (Bill) Womack of Indianola, WA; Carol Westphal of Virginia Beach; Michael (Julie) Brown of Virginia Beach; Kathleen (Joey) Elliott of Virginia Beach; 12 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; her brother, William Benzing of Minnesota; and many nieces and nephews.

Veradell is predeceased by her husband of 62 years; daughter, Ginny Brown; and grandson, Daniel Tuschhoff.

A funeral service to honor Veradell's life will be held Dec. 28th, at 2 p.m., at Charity United Methodist Church, 4080 Charity Neck Road, Virginia Beach 23457. There will be a viewing 30 minutes before the service.

The family would like to thank the wonderfully caring staff at Our Lady of Perpetual Help and Medi Home Hospice.

Flowers may be sent to Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, 1485 Kempsville Road, Virginia Beach 23464. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.hollomon-brown.com.

Veradell (Benzing) Brown was born May 17, 1923, in Grand Rapids, MN. She was the second of four children born to the late-William and Myrtle Benzing. She married Bill Brown in Portland, OR, Aug. 17, 1940. They reared five children, who were born in Alaska, Oregon, Minnesota, and Washington state.