Verlie Zimmerman

1. What year were you born?

1931

2. What is your most vivid memory?

It's hard for me, my mother died in June 1943. I had three younger siblings to take care of. We’ve had a lot of tragedies in our family. My brother after he graduated high school was drafted into the army he came back and went to college. He graduated with a business degree but when he was 43 he was involved in a car accident and killed. I also had another brother three years older than me, he joined the service. He was 16, when he was in south korea. June 22 by dad was standing in the window crying and crying. When I asked him why he said Junior is dead. They said he was coming out of his barrets holding his gun up and shot himself in the chest, at 14 I knew that was a lie. Privates do not have guns to begin with.

3. Who has left the biggest impact on your life today?

We had such good neighbors and such good school teachers who lived near me. Without them my family would have never survived after my mom passed. I really appreciate everything they did for us, they stayed with us and took us to sunday school with them. So many times I have thanked them for doing that.

4. What are the big world events that you remember occurring throughout your life?

The 1937 flood, water was everywhere. I lived in Illinois but it was in Louisville too. There was a bridge and the water ran right through it, it was in the streets we couldn't go anywhere. I remember getting in a boat, they took us to another town and they had a school set up with buffet.

5. What dreams and goals did you have for your life? How did they change?

I don't know whether I really had any goals. I liked to go to school and I like to go to church. I really appreciate all the people helped me throughout my life.

6. How did you decide what you wanted to do with your life? How do you feel about that choice?

Well I went to business college and an architecture firm in the same town called the college to see who would be a good secretary for them. They chose me, in my interview that asked if I planned on getting married and I told them I don't think so I dont know of anyone I want to marry. Well in less than a year I was married.

7. What is the best compliment that you have ever received?

Someone told me I was a good sunday school teacher for four and five year olds. I went to the same church for almost fifty years and taught sunday school. I still hear from them, one family had eight children and the younger kids were in my class. I was here eating lunch one day and the mother came by to see me, well it wasn't too long after that a tall boy came in and sat next to me. He said do you remember me? And I thought gosh I know that's not my grandson. I just could not think he didn't look a thing like he used to and he said well my name is Sean and I still didnt know who he was. He thanked me because he was one of the only students left in my class after everyone else graduated.