Laverne Richter

Surrounded by her husband, children and grandchildren she so loved, LaVerne Herron Richter passed peacefully into the hands of God on Saturday, April 14, 2007. She was born September 21, 1930 in Pittsburg, Penn. to Catherine Kitty Maloy and Alexander Clifford Herron. Her sister Bette was born 2 years later. Her family moved to Los Angeles, California in the mid 1930s where when Laverne was seven years old her father died. Kitty went on to raise LaVerne and Bette during the depression years until 1941 when she married film editor Robert Bob Breckenridge Warwick, Sr. They relocated to Vista Street in West Hollywood. Her brother, Breck, was born July 1943. After graduating from Immaculate Heart HS in 1948, LaVerne worked in sales and modeled for May Co. Department Store while in college. In 1951, while visiting family in San Antonio, she was invited to a wedding in Laredo, Texas where she met John James Richter, Jr., the eldest son of the Richters Department Store family. It was love at first sight. Jim proposed after only 3 days, and LaVerne accepted. They were married four months later in San Antonio. For the first nine months, they lived in Dallas where Jim trained at A. Harris Co. Department Store. The couple moved back to Laredo to start a new career in the family business as well as a new family of three children: J. J. 3rd of Albuquerque, NM Mike of Chapel Hill, NC and Catherine of San Antonio. LaVerne balanced fulltime motherhood with an active social and community life. She was prominent in the Laredo Civic Music Association and the Washingtons Birthday Celebration organization. After her children were older, LaVerne started a new career as a buyer for Richters. She relished the challenge of shopping the national apparel markets and excelled in keeping up on all the latest fashion trends. Always athletic, LaVerne was an accomplished tennis player who enjoyed competition winning many amateur tournaments. The couple moved from Laredo to the Gulf Coast in 1983. In 1986, LaVerne suffered an untimely stroke, losing the use of her left side. Jim and LaVerne soon retired to the Kerrville area where they built their serene hilltop home. Here, she enjoyed her involvement in the Hill Country Arts Foundation and painting classes. Consistent with her character, LaVerne fought with determination to overcome her impairment. She never lost her faith in God, her friends and most of all, her family. She reached out beyond her physical limitations with the written word, writing many letters of hope and encouragement to those in need. LaVerne is also survived by soninlaw John Whitsett, daughtersinlaw Laura and Pringle, and the grandchildren Justin and wife Kara, Daena, Genevieve, Kaethe and Jamey who knew her as Oma. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 PM, Tuesday, April 17th at St. Paul United Methodist of Kerrville located at 135 Methodist Encampment Road. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Hill Country Arts Foundation or your church or charity of choice.Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of Kerrville Funeral Home.

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