Verna M. Ellis Gething, 80

STRUTHERS – Verna M. Ellis Gething, 80, of Maplecrest Nursing home, died Wednesday morning at St. Elizabeth Health Center.
Verna was born April 24, 1926 in Struthers, a daughter of E.J. “Jack” and Ellen LaForce Ellis. She was a lifelong area resident.
She was a 1944 graduate of Struthers High School where she was class officer, served on the reunion committee and was a member of the National Thespian Dramatic Honor Society. This led to a career on stage with the Youngstown Playhouse and the Piper Players in New York City and their traveling troupe.
Verna was a telephone operator for several companies as well as holding several secretarial positions. She was a Worthy Matron of Corem Chapter No. 454 O.E.S. in 1964 and Deputy Grand Matron of District 2 of Ohio in 1968. She was instrumental in organizing Lamplight Chapter No. 582 O.E.S. in Poland. She was a founding member of the former Fairview Immanuel Baptist Church in Youngstown.
She leaves a sister, Ruby Rupe Smith of Austintown; two brothers, Glenn Ellis of Poland and Jack Ellis of Cornelia, Ga.; and several nieces and nephews.
Besides her parents, Verna was preceded in death by her sister, Virginia Ellis Landy who died Jan. 10 of this year.
There will be funeral services at 1:30 p.m. Friday at the Davidson-Becker Funeral Home in Struthers, where friends may call from noon to 1:15 p.m. Friday.
Visit www.beckerobits.com to send condolences.