WHITESELL, Verna Ruth

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona, Saturday, March 09, 2013 Verna Ruth Whitesell, 88, of Prescott, Ariz., passed away Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013, after a three-year battle with Alzheimer's ended in a peaceful passage to her Lord. She received wonderful home/hospice Care from Granite Mountain. She was born in Bigelow, Minn., on Aug. 2, 1924. Ruth's life was rich and full. After high school in Worthington, Minn., she plunged into WWII activity. She worked at North American Aviation some two years in Inglewood, Calif., and then became one of the first Waves to give voluntary service. She served two years in the Navy, advancing to yeoman 1st. Ruth married Jack Whitesell on Jan. 11, 1947, and that marriage produced two children, Janet and son John. She had many years of corporate livelihood with Fluor Corporation, Aerojet General Corp., Space General Corp. and finally almost 20 years in the hardware business, owning two corporate stores of the Coast to Coast Franchise in Northern California where she played a very important role as executive officer and office manager. Ruth is survived by her husband of 66 years, Jack Whitesell; daughter, Janet Minnich; son, John Whitesell; and grandchildren and great grandchildren are spread over Arizona, California, Colorado and San Carlos, Mexico. There will be a memorial services at the Prescott VA Chapel at a later date. Services entrusted to Heritage Memory Mortuary, Prescott. For Ruth's online guestbook, please visit www.heritagefuneralchapels.com. Information provided by survivors.