Wilda M. Zuefle, 88, of Vero Beach passed away on Jan. 16.
Zuefle was predeceased by her parents; husband Howard; a son, Dennis Paul Zuefle; three brothers, Ogden “Bill” Pack, James D. Pack and Frederick Pack and a grandson Christopher L. Welch. She is survived by her daughter, Sue Ellen (Ronald) Welch; her son John (Joyce); three grandchildren Amber Zuefle, Ashlee Zuefle, and Amanda Yarborough (CJ); five great-grandchildren; and a niece, Kathy Koehler, who was devoted to Wilda and more like a second daughter, all of whom reside in Vero Beach. Others include three of her seven siblings; Joyce Helfrich, of Washington Courthouse, Ohio, Lovel Marting and Julia P. Boyd, both of Portsmouth, Ohio; many nieces and nephews; and last but not least, a special friend, Lucy, her cat.
Born in Portsmouth, Ohio, on Sept. 13, 1925 to Madge C. and Lewis A. Pack, she grew up in Scioto County and graduated from McDermott High School, a rural area near Portsmouth. Wilda married Howard P. Zuefle on June 2, 1946, at Central Church of Christ in Portsmouth, after his return from World War II. In 1960, they, along with their three children, moved to Florida to start a new life.
For a big part of her life, Wilda was a custom seamstress in the interior design business. An interesting career, it took her to many places in Florida, the islands and even to the space center.
After retirement, with her many scraps of fabric, she with other women in her church formed a quilting group. For several years, they donated quilts to the homeless and needy here and in many areas all over the world. Many quilts were donated after disasters, such as 9/11.
She was a 40+ year member of Vero Christian Church of Vero Beach. She served in various capacities in those years, including as a Sunday school teacher. She was also a Sunday school teacher at Central Church of Christ, Portsmouth, Ohio, before moving to Florida.
A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. on Jan. 26 at Strunk Funeral Home Vero Beach. Services in Portsmouth, OH will be announced at a later date. A guestbook is available online at www.strunkfuneralhome.com.
