Veiluva, Dorothy (Waterman) Obituary

Veiluva, Dorothy (Waterman) attended Elk Grove High School in Elk Grove, CA. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Veiluva, Dorothy (waterman).

Graduation Year	Class of 1938
Date of Passing	(unknown)
About	Exact Date of Passing unknown - April or May 2014 Dorothy Waterman Veiluva excelled at showing her four children how to live life to the fullest. From flight lessons in 1947, trips to South Vietnam to visit her husband in the early 1970s, running her own military contracting company in the 1980s, volunteer work during her retirement, and learning how to Skype in her nineties; she never forgot to make time for friends and family. Born in 1921 on a chicken farm in Elk Grove, California, Dorothy was the youngest of John and Mary Waterman's three children. Dorothy kept every love letter and telegram her late husband, Col. Ed Veiluva, ever wrote her. From 1941 when she was a nursing student at Stanford University and he was a fraternity boy at U.C. Davis, until he died in 1981; the letters span the globe and the current events of the times. In 1943, he became Captain Eddie, a B-24 Liberator pilot and she completed her B.A. and the nursing program at Stanford. She then served 16 months on active duty as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps. In 1944, while Ed was on a 30 day R&R from Italy after piloting over 35 bombing missions, the couple eloped to Reno, Nevada before he returned to the war in Europe. During his military service, orders sent them to London, Florida, Texas, Nebraska, Michigan, Oklahoma, Alabama, the Pentagon, and Vietnam. While at the Pentagon, the couple attended Nixon's Inaugural Ball. After he retired, he continued to go abroad writing letters from as far as Taiwan and Tehran. In 1975, Dorothy and Ed opened their hearts and their homes to their numerous Vietnamese friends who had become refugees. Serving others was a priority throughout her life including time spent at an orphanage in Saigon, positions with Officers Wives Clubs, PTAs, Scout Leader, Band Parent and over 2000 hours at Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center. Bridge, traveling and golf were also her passions. Dorothy was a member of St. Jerome's Catholic Church, a past president of the Liberty Parlor in Elk Grove, member of the Native Daughters of the Golden West and a charter member of the Women of the Military Service in Arlington Cemetery. She was a life member of Stanford University, the Stanford nurse Alumnae Association and life time member of MOAA. Dorothy is survived by daughters, Suzanne Kelly of Waco, Texas, Michele Brock of Santa Fe, New Mexico, Denise and spouse Carl Wilkerson of Arlington, Texas and son Michael Veiluva and spouse, Mardi of Walnut Creek, California. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Beverly Waterman, of Elk Grove, California. Preceded in death by her husband, Col. Edward Veiluva, son-in-law Ret. Bankruptcy Judge Larry Kelly of Waco, her parents, brother John D. Waterman and sister, Charlotte Louise Waterman. She was 'grandma' to Ryan and spouse, Andrea Kelly of Austin, Texas, Kevin and spouse Jennifer of Waco and Michael Kelly and fiance Ellen Eoff of San Francisco, CA. To Edward and Alex of Walnut Creek she was 'Grandma Dorothy' and 'Nana' to Zoe, Carter and Dean of Arlington. Numerous nephews and nieces and greats knew her as Auntie Dorothy. Dorothy leaves one great granddaughter, Annalise Rose Kelly of Waco and one great grandson, Andrew Waterman Kelly of Austin, Texas. Close family friends are Jane Morse of Elk Grove and Tu Nguyen and family. Visitation will be held Friday, May 9th from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. at Nicoletti's Funeral home, 5401 Folsom Blvd., Sacramento, CA. Services including Mass will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleum on Saturday, May 10th at 1:00 p.m. - Information from the Sacramento Bee on May 9, 2014