Obituaries

Ida Lee Werkheiser

Photo of Ida Lee Werkheiser
Our very dear and wonderful loving wife and mother, Ida Lee Werkheiser, 87, passed away August 16, 2016 at Circle of Life Hospice, Bentonville, Ark. Lee was born June 30, 1929 in her home town of Claflin, Kan., the youngest of four children born to her parents Lewis and Jean (Toll) Brust. Her siblings, Robert, James and Eleanor (Brust) Peebler are deceased. She attended Claflin schools through high school and then went to Hayes, KS where she earned her teaching degree. After teaching a few years Lee married William Joseph Cunningham (deceased) of Tulsa, Okla., a geological oil research engineer and was also a retired WWII U.S. Army Air Corps B-17 bombardier-navigator. They had two daughters, Cathy (deceased) and Carol, both of whom were very close to their mother. They traveled much of the USA following the locations of the oil research projects. They were all members of the Tahlequah Methodist Church, where they were very active. On May 8, 1981 Lee married Richard C. Werkheiser in Connecticut; they were married over 35 years. They became members of the So. Windsor (Wampanog) Congregational Church where they were very active. Lee found employment as an accountant in Hartford with Coleco Industries, toy company (maker of Cabbage Patch Dolls). Lee hosted many meals, cookouts and card parties at her home as well as their summer cottage on Lake Alexander, Conn. Their three New England grandsons vacationed there together with them for one week each summer. The boys very much enjoyed the lake, water, sailing, bike trials, woods, tether ball, and miniature golf. After Dick's 1992 retirement from Pratt and Whitney, Dick and Lee moved to Bella Vista in very NW Arkansas which is in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. This area has mild winters; only one month of winter per year. Lee continued to schedule many social functions in their new home with their many new friends. They helped build a new Methodist Church in the "Highlands" area 1994, where they both became choir members and were Care Group Leaders for eight years. With seven golf courses available they played much "relearning" golf for about 15 years. Then Dick transferred his recreational energies to tennis and racquetball. Lee continued to manage their home social functions – both large and small groups. In 1994 Dick and Lee volunteered for the Bella Vista Crime watch in their area (not time consuming), which they did for 15 years. They also volunteered to work at the Walton Arts Center, Fayetteville, for many of their scheduled productions, including Broadway shows. They accomplished contributing 15 years to that function (somewhat time consuming) but with numerous "rewards". Lee's surviving family members are Richard C. Werkheiser, husband, Bella Vista, Ark.; Carol Ann Cunningham, daughter, Woodstock, Vt.; step-daughter, Wendy Jean Fusco, Dayville, Conn.; step-son, Richard Scott Werkheiser, Vernon, Conn.; grandchildren, Austin Turner, Molly Turner, and Sarah (Turner) McGowan, all of Oklahoma, Jeremy Young, Massachusetts, Loren Washburn and Matthew Washborn, Vermont, Scott Werkheiser, Connecticut; great-grandchildren; Tobias Young, Whitaker Young, Cassidy Young, Cordelia Young, all of Massachusetts, Grace McGowan and Liam McGowan both of Oklahoma. A memorial service for Lee will be on September 16, 2016 at 11 a.m. in their Highlands Church, 371 Glasgow Road, Bella Vista, Ark., with refreshments following the service. On-line condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com.

Published August 26, 2016

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