Verda Mae Armes - A Life Well Lived

Personal Lifetime Memories & Tribute Written

Born September 19, 1919 in Girard, Texas - Passed Away October 14, 2022 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Verda Mae was born to Clarence and Lillian Phipps on September 19, 1919 on the family home place in Girard, Texas. She was raised on the farm, helping pick cotton, or whatever was required. She went to school at the Girard school, until the family moved to San Antonio for her father to find work in her junior year. She completed high school, and graduated from Brackenridge High School in San Antonio in 1939. Quite a change for a young girl from West Texas small town Girard to a big high school in San Antonio, a school of over 500 graduates verse 8 or 9 graduates from Girard.

Verda Mae had already met and fell in love with Audie Armes from the small neighboring town of of Jayton, Texas. They corresponded back and forth for a while before they were married on November 4, 1939 in the preacher's home in Jayton, Texas. Audie worked at the cotton gin in Jayton, Texas where they lived. To their union, a daughter, Glenda, was born on August 22, 1940, at home. They remained in Jayton, Texas until Glenda was a 3-month old baby.

Then they moved to San Antonio, Texas where they lived with her sister, Ruth and brother-in-law, Sylvester Ward, until moving across the street to a rental house on Harland Street, a rental house of her Dad's. Audie and Sylvester went to what was then called Duncan Field and applied for work and both got hired. On December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, was bombed by the Japanese. President Roosevelt made his famous speech to workers that morning stating War was declared on Japan. His words rang out to all "This Day Will Live In Infamy!" Because both men had young children, they were exempt from being drafted.

Their second child, a son, Ronald, was born on April 21, 1943, at Nix Hospital there in San Antonio, Texas. Glenda began having severe asthma, so Verda's mother came to San Antonio by bus to help with baby, Ronald. Audie took Glenda, by bus, to Girard, Texas for Papa Phipps to take care of her, then they made the trip to Lubbock, Texas where he applied for transfer to Lubbock Air Force Station (later renamed Reese AFB). They had been advised by doctors a change of climate might be better for Glenda. Audie began employment for civil service at Reese AFB. Audie got a friend from Girard, Texas to drive him back to San Antonio, Texas and packed up Verda Mae and Ronald and moved to Smyer, Texas (Lubbock).

Reese Air Force Base closed. Audie was one of the last civilians to leave the base. Ironically, his son, Ronald, was later employed at Reese Air Force Base. It, once again, was closed, and Ronald was instrumental in implementing the final base closure. After the base closure, Audie applied for transfer to Clovis Air Force Station, New Mexico. Audie began his civil service employment at Clovis Air Force Base (1946). They lived on base. Glenda began school there on base. Clovis Air Force Base was forced to close. Again, Audie was without a job. The family moved back to Girard, Texas to Mother and Dad's. As it was Christmas time, Audie worked for the local five and dime in Spur, Texas for about a month.

After discussion and being unable to get an immediate transfer to Tinker Air Force Base in Midwest City, Oklahoma, it was decided they would relocate anyway. Verda Mae had a cousin and his wife, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. No other relatives here in the state. They lived with the cousin and his wife, Orville and Bessie Ripple. Audie worked for Leeway Trucking Company with Orville until he could get transferred to Tinker Air Force Base. Ronald came down with Chicken Pox and the landlord asked them to move. Orville then purchased a house. He had a friend who managed a small grocery store called "Cooper Grocery" which had a small house attached to it. Audie and Verda Mae lived there a few months, while Audie worked in the store. They then found a small house to rent on SE 43rd. He then got his transfer in 1948 to Tinker Air Force Base to continue his Civil Service employment. Verda Mae stated Audie had enough leave accumulated that he never missed a paycheck. At Tinker Air Force Base, Audie completed his Civil Service career going out on sick/leave on September 14, 1970, then officially

retired on May 6, 1971, with 30 years of government service. Audie's position title was Aircraft Hydraulic Systems Mechanic, WG, Grade 10, Step 3. He took several TDY trips to other bases to work on projects repairing jet engines. Verda Mae and Audie had 56 years together until his death January 8, 1996.

Verda Mae was a homemaker and mother during their years. While living in southwest OKC, she worked part time for the Oklahoma City Public Schools in the cafeteria. She worked at Lafayette Grade School. After moving to Midwest City in 1953, Verda Mae began employment with the Midwest City Public School System working in cafeterias. She started at Traub Elementary where Ronald attended elementary school. Verda Mea then transferred to West Side Elementary, where she became Cafeteria Manager, then became Manager at East Side Elementary. She retired from there in 1975. While working with the school system, the "cafeteria ladies" took several long distance bus trips every summer. She thoroughly enjoyed these bus trips and loved every minute of the traveling. The school system is where she learned her trade of making yeast dinner rolls and delicious cinnamon rolls. She could "pinch" out dozens of rolls in nothing flat. It was a talent she enjoyed.

During the time the family was young, family vacations were spent every year in August at the State Church of God Camp Meeting in Bristow, Oklahoma. Audie took lave from Tinker Air Force Base and they spent a week tent camping, attending church services, and renewing friendships from all over the state. Everyone knew the Armes' and they were well liked.

Other family vacations were tent camping trips to Oklahoma and Arkansas State Parks. On May 10, 1969, they purchased a lakeside lot on Lake Eufaula. Many fun weekends and vacations were spent there. Lots of water skiing, swimming, boating were enjoyed throughout the years including 4th of July was a celebrations, boating to Eufaula Cove and watching the city fireworks show from our boats were among the most memorable. Homemade ice cream and watermelon was a treat when everyone was together. Lots of summer memories at the Lake with family members and friends.

Verda Mae loved traveling. While their son, Ronald was employed with Braniff Airlines, he took· his Mom and Dad to Hawaii. They both loved the adventure. After retirement, Verda Mae and Audie travelled and camped all over Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Texas, wherever they could drive their pickup and tow their travel trailer. They belonged to the Roadrunners Camping Club for many years and made many longtime friends. She and Audie even went snow skiing twice with the Shartel Church of God to Winter Park, Colorado, vacation trips taking the jeep around Ouray, Colorado, with Glenda and Tom. Any trip or adventure they were eager to try.

Verda Mae and Audie lived in Southwest Oklahoma City until moving to Midwest City in 1953. They attended South Agnew Church of God, where Verda Mae served as the song leader, Sunday School Teacher, Sunday School Superintendent and Audie served on various church boards, etc. Upon their plan to move to Midwest City, they decided to start a church in the Midwest City area. They met in homes until a location and old building was made available, purchased and moved to 206 N MacArthur Drive. They worshipped and served there until Midwest City Church of God purchased land and built a new church building at 7500 E. Reno. Again they both were instrumental in the building process. For a year they met and worshipped at Soldier Creek Elementary. In 1977, Verda Mae and Audie began attending Shartel Church of God located at 10th & Shartel in Oklahoma City. Shartel Church of God relocated and built a new church building at 11600 S. Western Avenue. Again they both were very involved in the building program. They attended Shartel Church of God the rest of their lives.

Audie and Verda Mae implemented and organized the Golden Agers Senior Adult Group in 1978. They met twice a month for activities, games, and outings. The organizational name was later changed to Joyaires, which is still active. Verda Mae continued meeting with the group faithfully after Audie's death. She loved playing Canasta, very competitively, and any other kind of board games. Verda Mae volunteered and worked for the Cleveland County Election Board at voting precincts at election times for 10 years, for which she received a Certification of Appreciation for her services.

On May 3, 1999, at about 5:00 p.m. a devastating tornado struck the Oklahoma City area on the south side and surrounding areas. Verda Mae was living in Emerald Springs Apartments on South Western, which were completely destroyed and later demolished. Her car was picked up and blown about a block North, smashed flat and lying upside down. She always kept Audie's Bible with his marked scriptures and notes, on the console next to her in the car. It has never been found or ever reported to her. That was a sad loss to her. Again, she was spared and survived many more years of life. Her personal account of that night is attached for your reading and review.

To the Phipps family were born eight children, six daughters, and two sons. Ruth Ward (deceased), Clifford Phipps (deceased), Grace Fincher (deceased), Melvin Phipps (deceased), Sybel Barton (deceased), Verda Mae Armes, Emma Lou Waddell Hall (deceased), Anna Lorene Hunnicutt. After Verda Mae and Audie's relocation to Oklahoma, most of the brothers and sisters, and at times their parents, moved to this area also. Grace and Anna Lorene remained In Texas raising their families.

Verda Mae is survived by one daughter, Glenda Fatkin (Tom), a daughter-in-law, Carolyn Armes, Five grandchildren, David Fatkin (Eden), Lori Higgs (Mike), Andrea Dunn (B.J.), Deidra Davis, (Chris), Jennifer Gumerson (Erik), fourteen great-grandchildren, Jared Fatkin (Lauren), Alex Fatkin (Taylor), Holly Kloxin (Kaleb), Ryan Higgs, Emily Higgs Kopin (Josh), Jonathan Higgs (Morgan), Jamilyn Dunn, Trey Dunn, Constance Davis, Camilla Davis, Daxton Davis, Oliver Gumerson, Harper Gumerson, River Gumerson, two great-great grandchildren, Park O'Neal Fatkin, and Adelaide Dove Kloxin. Verda Mae and Audie were proud and excited to be able to go to the hospital whenever a new great-grandchild was born. They experienced all of them, except one, even driving to Dallas and Plano for the births. After Audie's death, Verda Mae continued this happy event.

She was proud of all of them, and bragged about them whenever given the opportunity. Her first grandchild, David Fatkin, was born at Harmon AFB, Stephenville, Newfoundland, Canada, In 1960, Verda Mae made the flight overseas, thru Montreal, Canada, with a layover, by herself, to be there when baby David was brought home from the Air Force Hospital, staying over two weeks to help new Mom and baby.

Verda Mae was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Audie Armes; her son, Ronald Armes; her two brothers; and her four sisters.

Verda Mae is also survived by her sister, Anna Lorene Hunnicutt in Waco, Texas; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Verda Mae lived a very full and happy life of 103 plus years! Verda Mae was a wonderful, loving, Godly and exemplary wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, great-great grandmother, aunt, sister, friend, and Christian example for all.