Arlene Whitney Vonderhaar

The devastating effects of Alzheimers claimed the life of our mother and grandmother, Arlene Whitney Vonderhaar, Friday, February 22, 2008, in Gulfport, MS. Arlene was born in Emporia, Kansas, but spent most of her youth in Nebraska. She attended Peru State Teacher's College and the University of Nebraska. She taught school several years and while teaching at Hebron, Nebraska, she met and married Karl Vonderhaar. During the five years Karl was serving in WW II, Arlene worked at several government offices, including the Quartermaster Corp at Camp Roberts, California and Bruning Air Force Base, Nebraska. After he went overseas she was employed by the U. S. Navy at Pratt Whitney Aircraft and Reconstruction Finance in Kansas City. Shortly after Karl returned he was transferred from a government agency in Dallas to Gulfport in 1946. Arlene was then employed at the Gulfport V A and several years later in Civilian Personnel at Keesler Air Force Base. They resided in the same house in Edgewater Park since 1954 and were the parents of two children, Alexia and John. Arlene has always been active in civic, educational and social activities. She especially enjoyed contract bridge and golf. She has been president of both the Broadwater and Sunkist Ladies Golf Association and president of the Great Southern and Sunkist Ladies Auxiliary. She was a founding member of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church and has been both a maid and queen of the Krewe of Venus. Arlene was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Karl Vonderhaar, and her daughter, Alexia Huggins. She is survived by her son, John Vonderhaar; and two granddaughters, Amanda Vonderhaar of New Orleans, LA, and Kristina Huggins of Ocean Springs, MS. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, February 26, 2008, at 12 noon at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church where friends may visit one hour before service time. Interment will follow in Southern Memorial Park. Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, 15 Street, in Gulfport is in charge of arrangements.