Vera Jean Buntain Clark, aged 94 and a half, passed away on Nov. 11, 2024, near Pittsboro, surrounded by the love of family, near and far.
She was born April 15, 1930, in Larwill, and was the third of seven children of W. Arthur and Helen Oliver Buntain.
Vera grew up in Larwill in the company of her siblings Ardith, Doris, Ellen Louise, Gertrude, Wendell and Alice. She graduated from Larwill High School in 1948 where she was the salutatorian of her class and a yell leader. In the yearbook it was prophesied that she would own Vera Jean’s Dress Shop, and her nickname was “Punk,” her favorite saying was “Yea Gads,” her pet peeve was blushing. Her only attempt at trick or treating ended in a scamper down a hill when she tried to knock over an outhouse with her youth group. The target, one of their teachers, had no sense of humor and came out with a gun to chase the pranksters away.
Vera was a young woman in the big city of Chicago for a while before working at Kimble Glass, Owens-Illinois in Warsaw, where she stayed for 35 years and was a billing clerk when she retired. This is also where she met Karen Clark and they married in the backyard of their house near Palestine Lake in 1955. For 69 years they were cheerleaders, caregivers, travelling companions, singers and loving partners together until Karen passed away in September 2024.
Vera and Karen started their travels with a honeymoon to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and eventually criss-crossed the United States many times visiting places like Mt. Rushmore, Old Faithful, the Smokies, Niagara Falls, Washington, D.C., Cape Canaveral, Padre Island, White Sands and many trips to Mackinac Island. They spent 18 winters in Sebring, Florida. Vera didn’t like heights so driving through the mountains was a challenge. She would yell at Karen to keep his eyes on the road while gripping the armrest with white knuckles. However, she didn’t mind flying, visiting her brother Wendell and his family in Germany and New Mexico.
Vera surrounded her home with beautiful things, tending a backyard garden that was filled with lilies, daffodils, hibiscus and purple cone flowers. She tried growing vegetables but eventually surrendered to the raccoons that kept stealing the corn and sampling the tomatoes. When shopping in antique stores and on excursions like the Wapokeneta Pie Run, Vera was always on the lookout for faces and vintage hats. Hats from the 1920s to 1960s covered the walls of one room while wizened, mysterious faces peered down in the sun room. She had an interest in history and enjoyed reading about Native American societies and leaders and the settling of the western United States. She was thrilled to find out that an ancestor, John Buntain, served in the Indiana 129th Regiment Infantry, Company G during the Civil War.
Her actions were her testament to her love for her family and her belief in supporting her community. If her daughters needed her help, she was there to babysit, shuttle grandkids, clean, cook and move houses. She was a shoulder to cry on and a beacon when times were tough, and could be counted on to leave notes with her signature smiley face on the kitchen counter. She became an emoji expert, impressing her grandkids with just the right one to make her point when she texted. Along with Karen, she cheered on her kids and grandkids at sporting events, concerts and plays. Vera kept the annual Buntain Siblings family reunions going so the cousins didn’t lose touch.
For many years Vera organized the annual basement sale to support the missions work of the Burket United Methodist Church while also guiding the church’s mission efforts. After retiring she was a volunteer driver through Combined Community Services, taking people to their medical appointments. She was a strong believer in the democratic process, never missing a chance to vote including in this year’s presidential election.
The family would like to thank the outstanding staff at Brighton Hospice, Cornerstone Home Healthcare, Hendricks Regional Hospital, Danville Regional Rehab and Woodland Terrace who provided such wonderful care to both mom and dad this year. We are grateful.
Vera joins her husband, Karen, in heaven to enjoy the changing seasons on Crystal Lake and travel the world, and leaves many loved ones to cherish her memory: her two grateful daughters, Kathy Meiser and her husband Max, of Pittsboro; and Sherri McConnell and her husband Bill, of Okemos, Mich.; and grandchildren who will miss her birthday cards with a smiley face and “Happy Birthday” duets with Grandpa: Josh Barker and wife Andra, of Warsaw; Erik Barker and wife Megan, of Brownsburg; Justin Amber and wife Esther, of Speedway; Brad Meiser and wife Laura, of Pittsboro; Emilia McConnell and partner Jess Holowicki, of Plymouth, Mich.; and Maggie McConnell and partner, Oliver Hill, of Detroit, Mich.; great-grandchildren: Noah and wife Christina, Kelly, Josiah, Kloe and Gabriel Barker; Nate and Drew Barker, Morrison Amber, Larry Meiser; and great-great-grandchild, Joshua Barker.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., with visitation beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1 at King Memorial Home, 101 N. Tucker St., Mentone.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that you donate to Combined Community Services of Kosciusko County, ccsgives.com or United Way of Whitley and Kosciusko Counties, www.uwwk.org or an agency in your local area in memory of Vera, whose passion included supporting agencies who care for those in need.
Share a memory or send an online condolence at www.hartzlerfuneralservices.com.