Obituary of LaVerne Whapples

LaVerne WHAPPLES went to be with the Lord on 18th April 2016 after a courageous year-long battle with pancreatic cancer. She is survived by her husband and best friend of over 30 years, William (Bill) Whapples; her three children, Michael (Michelle), Sharon, and Larry Brown. She was always known as Grammy by her five U.S. grandchildren, Zachary (Jaclyn), Chad, Lindsay, Gage, and Harley Brown; her three U.K. grandchildren, Reece Whapples, Evangeline, and Ariana Bruce; and her four great grandchildren, Colton, Hayden, Eowyn (a.k.a. Ellie), and Parker Brown. Born Edith LaVerne BRINKLEY 12th August, 1941, she was the eleventh of 13 children by Charles Franklin Brinkley and Annie Faye Crowder of Pulaski, VA. At home she was known by her middle name, which she continued to use throughout her life, although friends often shortened it to Bernie. She was preceded in death by all but four of her 12 siblings, who now live in Florida, Roxie (Dewey) Ingle, Fred (Linda) Brinkley, Judy (Jim) Stark, and Linda Kay. LaVerne attended school in Pulaski, VA, and married a high school classmate, Darrell Brown from Pulaski High School, who joined the U.S.A.F. immediately after his graduation. During their 20 years in the military, LaVerne gave birth to and raised her three children. She travelled extensively to a wide variety of duty stations in the U.S. and around the world, which included duty tours in Guam and West Germany. Their final duty station was in Florida, where the family settled. Her second marriage in 1986 was to William (Bill) Whapples, a retired British Royal Navy nuclear submarine engineer officer, which brought more travel to Britain and Europe and added Bill+óGé¼Gäós two sons, Douglas and Philip, and their children to their greater family circle. They were married for nearly thirty years and during their brief retirement years made travel and cruising, at home and abroad, a top priority. Children and family were always central to LaVerne+óGé¼Gäós life. She loved to attend frequent family gatherings with her siblings, their families and friends, and reunions with her 1960 Pulaski High School classmates. Throughout her life, she was emotionally invested and involved whenever possible in the lives of her children, grandchildren, and more recently, caregiving her great grandchildren. In fact, LaVerne had a gift with children. She often sang, danced, and played with her loved ones, and +óGé¼+ôGrammy+óGé¼Gäós house+óGé¼-¥ is where they all wanted to go. She remained deeply grateful for the myriad of opportunities to influence their upbringing and she worked closely with their parents to instill core family values. Her love of children and a wish to help those who were underprivileged motivated her to volunteer with charities such as the Children+óGé¼Gäós Home Society. LaVerne was also a gregarious person; she made friends easily. People she met never remained strangers for long, and many became lifelong friends. Her untimely passing is mourned by her family and her many friends and relatives in this country and in Europe. She leaves us happy with the knowledge she is deeply embedded in the hearts of her family and friends whose lives she touched for many years to come. LaVerne and her husband, Bill would like to express their thanks to the doctors, nurses and aides for their expertise and professionalism, and the warm, loving care she received from so many at Holmes Cancer Care Center, Melbourne, Florida Hospital, Orlando, and Wuesthoff Home Hospice, Rockledge during her long battle with this horrible disease.Pastor Pete Inman will lead a Service of Remembrance on Saturday, 30th April, 2016 at 11 a.m. at the Lighthouse Assembly of God 26 West Fee Ave. Melbourne, FL 32901. This will be followed by a Celebration of Life at 1 p.m. at 3585 Serenity Lane, Melbourne, FL 32934 the home of Mike & Michelle Brown. In lieu of flowers, if you would care to donate to cancer research organizations of your choice, we would appreciate it greatly.