Verna M. Dunwiddie, age 81 and a lifelong resident of the Elwood community, passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 6, 2016 at St. Vincent Hospice in Indianapolis after a brief, but hard fought battle with cancer. She was born August 24, 1935 in Elwood, the daughter of Vern E. and Lena M. (Robinson) Robinson. She was a 1953 graduate of Wendell L. Willkie High School in Elwood. Verna retired from STAR Financial Bank in Elwood in 2000 where she had worked as a teller for many years. Verna was a well-known in the community, and previously worked at Sutter's Dairy Bar, the Elwood J.C. Penney store, the cafeteria in Elwood Community Schools, and was a former manager for the Elwood Hallmark Store. She married Clarence Arthur Dunwiddie on December 31, 1976, and she formerly attended the Main Street Wesleyan Church in Elwood. Verna will always be remembered for having a smile on her face and being friendly to everyone she met.

Verna's family includes 2 sons, Robert V. "Bobby" (wife Robin) Goodknight of St. Petersburg, FL and Lawrence A. "Larry" Goodknight of Maui, HI; 8 grandchildren, Brian Goodknight, Heather Haney, Greg Goodknight, Joe Goodknight, Caroline Hiatt, Kirk Goodknight, Mike Goodknight, and James Goodknight; 11 great grandchildren; 3 daughters-in-law, Vanessa Goodknight, Angela Goodknight, and Sandra Goodknight; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her 1st husband Robert L. Goodknight; 2nd husband, Clarence A. Dunwiddie who died in 1990; son, Brian K. Goodknight in 2014; and 2 sisters, Laura Jackman and Audrey Bryan.

A memorial service celebrating Verna's life will be held at 4:00 PM on Sunday, October 23, 2016 at Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home in Elwood with Rev. Tim Becker of Main Street Wesleyan Church officiating. Visitation will be held from 2 to 4 pm prior to the memorial service on Sunday at the funeral home. Burial will take place privately at the Elwood City Cemetery. The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to friends and neighbors who have provided caring support to Verna during recent trying times with her illness. Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Vincent Mercy Hospital Foundation in Elwood for the Cardiac Rehab department at the hospital. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at: www.copherfeslermay.com.