Varnetta Croy Wetherington

Marietta- Varnetta Croy Wetherington, 83, of Marietta, formerly of Macon, passed away at a local hospital on Friday, April 29. A graveside service will be held on Sunday, May 1, 2011 at 3:00PM at Riverside Cemetery in Macon with the Reverend Ron Holland officiating. Varnetta was born in Arcadia, Florida in 1927. She was a graduate of Gainesville High School in Gainesville, Florida. She married the late Ryndal L. Wetherington in 1947. They resided in Ridgecrest, California, Huntsville, Alabama, and Fairfax County, Virginia, before retiring to Macon in 1978. While living in Virginia, Varnetta was a member of the Northern Virginia Board of Realtors and was employed by the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute. She was a charter member of Fairfax Circle Baptist Church in Fairfax, Virginia. After settling in Macon, she was an active member of Vineville Baptist Church for many years and was a charter member of Vineville North Baptist Church (now Northway Church). Most recently she has been affiliated with Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Sandy Springs. Varnetta was preceded in death by her husband, who was the recipient of the Bronze Star and a Purple Heart in World War II, having been injured during the Battle of the Bulge. Upon his retirement, Mr. Wetherington was the Director of Engineering for NASA's Space Shuttle Program. Varnetta was also preceded in death by her two sons. In 2002, her son, David Glen Wetherington, passed away and joined his infant brother, Kenneth Val Wetherington. Varnetta's parents, Etta Burton Croy and Arthur Leslie Croy, also preceded her in death, along with a brother, Arthur Dupree Croy. Varnetta is survived by two daughters, Varyn Jo Gross of Waco, Texas, and Lesley Ann Wetherington, of Marietta; son-in-law, Bob Gross and her grandchildren, Caitlin Jo Gross and Taylor Croy Gross, along with his wife, Beka Jo Gross, all of Waco, Texas. In addition, Varnetta's brothers, Harry Robert Croy of Bedford, Virginia, Leslie Burton Croy of Tampa, Florida, and Charles Dennis Croy of St. Petersburg, Florida, survive her, along with their wives. She is also survived by a sister, Josie Beth Croy Mayton of St. Petersburg, Florida. Varnetta took great joy in reading, in music, in history and in her family. She will be greatly missed. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Missions Program at Mount Vernon Baptist Church, 850 Mount Vernon Highway, Sandy Springs, GA 30327. Register online at www.hartsmort.com. Hart's Mortuary and Crematory, Cherry Street, has charge of arrangements.