Bertie Christine Vanbuskirk's Obituary
VANBUSKIRK, BERTIE CHRISTINE CORNETT Born June 19, 1911 to Nathaniel and Elizabeth Cornett in Middlesboro, KY, slipped into the arms of Jesus on June 27, 2008. She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard VanBuskirk; brother, Nathaniel C. Cornett; son, Richard Flinn VanBuskirk and great grandson, Hudson Smith. She is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Jeannine and Larry Gott; son and daughter-in-law, Dirk and Brenda VanBuskirk; daughter and son-in-law, Reveille and Charles Lehecka; four grandchildren, Angela VanBuskirk Swanson and husband, Patrick; Richard VanBuskirk and wife Crystal; Kim Lehecka; and Tracy Lehecka Smith and husband, Clay; two great grandchildren, Alexis VanBuskirk and Elizabeth Swanson, and numerous nieces and nephews. Bertie was raised in Birmingham, AL and attended the Birmingham Conservatory of Music. During World War II, she was a Rosie the Riveter, having the distinction of working on the Enola Gay airplane which bombed Hiroshima. Being very patriotic, she won many awards for her service as air raid warden and the only Auxiliary Police Woman in Birmingham. She was church organist in AL, GA, KY and CA, moving from state to state, following her career Army husband. She lived in Crockett, CA for several years, moving to Dallas, TX in 1966 where she became active in the North Texas Collie Club. She was a poet, an artist and loved gardening. Her water gardens were a showcase in the neighborhood. She was a member of the Chapel of the Cross Episcopal Church. Known lovingly by her piano students as ‘Miss Bertie’, she will be missed by all of her friends.
What’s your fondest memory of Bertie?
What’s a lesson you learned from Bertie?
Share a story where Bertie's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Bertie you’ll never forget.
How did Bertie make you smile?