Veiluva, Dorothy Stella (Waterman) Obituary

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

Graduation Year	Class of 1938
Date of Passing	May 05, 2014
About	Published: Monday, May 19, 2014 Dorothy Stella Waterman Veiluva, a native of Elk Grove died May 5, 2014 in Waco, Texas where she was living. She was 92. She was born Dec. 10, 1921 to John and Mary Waterman and grew up in Elk Grove until after junior college when she attended Stanford Lane Nursing College in San Francisco and graduated on the Stanford campus as a full-fledged nurse, her lifetime work. Her early years are best described by her dear friend Jane Derr Morse: “Dorothy and I met when we attended kindergarten one day a week at Edna Batey’s home where she would tell her famous stories then serve graham crackers to the five students attending. “We began first grade in our beautiful grammar school (the present CSD administration building). There were too many students so a test was given and the six highest scores were put into the hall until the second grade could make room for us. Dorothy thought we had done something wrong and “cried so hard” until the teacher could convince her about what was taking place. “We were very fortunate to join a group of outstanding students including Warren Frame, Alfred Coons, Hazel Foulks, Edna Mae Markofer and Bill Rolfe to name a few. “In the fifth grade Dorothy and I were taking dancing school from Mrs. Marshall Coons who had classes in her home across from the grammar school and one day we were walking to class when she mentioned problems with her girl friend so I said, ‘Well, why don’t you and I become best friends then,’ and she quickly agreed. “We were asked to tap dance at many programs in Elk Grove as well as in junior college in Sacramento. “We loved to ride our bikes to the Foulks Ranch to swim in one of the only two swimming pools in Elk Grove. “Dorothy missed her graduation from grammar school due to an appendectomy. High school was lots of fun and Dorothy participated in the annual oratorical contest for senior students when she was a junior, and I believe she won against eight other students. “We both also became acquainted with our future husbands, Ed Veiluva from Wilton and I met Dave Morse from Franklin.” In 1943 Ed Veiluva became Captain Eddie, a B-24 Liberator pilot. Dorothy served 16 months on active duty as a second lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps. In 1944, while he was on a 30-day R&R from Italy after piloting over 35 bombing missions, the couple eloped in Reno 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. In 1975 they opened their home to their numerous Vietnamese friends who had become refugees. Serving others was a priority throughout Dorothy’s life, her family said. She was a member of St. Jerome’s Catholic Church, past president of the Liberty Parlor, Native Daughters of the Golden West in Elk Grove, charter member of the Women of the Military Service in Arlington Cemetery, life member of Stanford University, Stanford Nurse Alumnae Association and MOAA. Dorothy kept every love letter and telegram her husband, Col. Ed Veiluva ever wrote her from 1941 until he died in 1981. Also preceding her in death were her siblings, John D. Waterman and Charlotte Louise Waterman; and son-in-law Ret. Bankruptcy Judge Larry Kelly. She is survived by daughters Suzanne Kelly of Waco, Michele Brock of Santa Fe, N.M., Denise and spouse Carl Wilkerson of Arlington, Texas; son Michael Veiluva and spouse Mardi of Walnut Creek; sister-in-law Beverly Waterman of Elk Grove; grandchildren Ryan Kelly (Andrea) of Austin, Texas, Kevin (Jennifer) of Waco, Michael Kelly and fiancé Ellen Eoff of San Francisco, Edward and Alex of Walnut Creek, Zoe, Carter and Dean of Arlington; great-grandchildren Annalise Rose Kelly of Waco and Andrew Waterman Kelly of Austin; and numerous nieces and nephews. Services took place May 10 at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleum, Sacramento. - Information from the Elk Grove Citzen