MADISONVILLE — Verna Voigt Covington, 87, of Madisonville, died on July 24, 2010 after a long struggle with diabetes and heart problems. She was born in Minco, Okla. on Sept. 14, 1922 to Mary Boevers and Albert Voigt. Verna was the youngest of six children. She lived in Union City until her senior year of high school when her family moved to Manor, where she graduated from Manor High School in 1941.

Verna was employed at the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi. She was certified as a riveter, helping to keep our planes in the air. Verna met Charles William “Billy” Covington of Normangee at the boarding house where she lived and they were married on Nov. 11, 1949. Billy built their first house in the Rolling Acres area of Corpus Christi.

Verna’s husband, Billy was transferred to Atlantic Richfield in Pasadena, while there Verna worked for Gulf Coast Investments in Houston. Upon Billy’s retirement in 1973, the couple moved to Madisonville. They joined the Union Baptist Church at Ten Mile. Verna was employed in the bookkeeping department at the Farmers State Bank, First Bank & Trust in Bryan and also Madisonville State Bank. She lost her husband on Dec. 13, 1983. Verna continued to work at the bank and retired in 1983.

During the last years when Mrs. Covington faced so many medical challenges, she relied on “her little girls” as she fondly called them. Theresa Bledsoe, Evelyn Dawson and Anne Clancy were honored to answer that call and to assist her with all areas of her life. Verna loved her family and friends and showed her love by baking for all occasions. She was famous for her pies and candy.

Mrs. Covington was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Charles William “Billy” Covington; two brothers, Earl Voigt and Joe Voigt; and two infant twin sisters, Vandora Virginia Voigt and Nina Voigt. She is survived by her brother, Sam F. Voigt and wife Nicki of La Salle, Mich.; two sisters-in-law, Sue C. Kundig and May H. Covington, both of Huntsville; and a host of nieces and nephews.

 A funeral service to celebrate the life of Verna Voigt Covington will be held 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 28, 2010, at the Madisonville Funeral Home. Rev. Dean Ferguson will officiate. Burial will follow in the Ten Mile Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home.

Pallbearers are Steve Covington, Richard Grimmer, David G. Grimmer, David H. Grimmer, Joe Bledsoe and Sean F. Clancy.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ten Mile Cemetery Association, P. O. Box 216, Normangee, Texas 77871. Madisonville Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Visit our website at www.madisonvillefuneralhome.com to view the Memorial Tribute DVD and to sign the guestbook.