Velma Saunders

Velma B. Saunders

December 2, 1909 ~ February 13, 2015

Dr. Velma Bertha Saunders passed away peacefully at her home in Ogden on February 13, 2015.  She was surrounded by her devoted daughter, Valetta, and her loving caregivers.

Velma was born on December 2, 1909 in Lake Charles, Louisiana to Lee and Mattie Green Blankinship.  She also lived in Kansas City and Washington, D.C., before moving to Ogden in 1936.

In her growing up years, she witnessed the lynching of a black man who was accused of whistling at a white girl. Upon her arrival in Ogden she was shown which side of the street “colored” people were allowed to use, was not allowed in most restaurants, and was barred from using public drinking fountains and restrooms. These were just a few of the injustices she suffered.

Velma chose to respond by doing positive things for her adopted community such as advocacy for the construction of a community center on the west side of town, installation of semaphores for school children crossing Wall Avenue, removal of an intrusive industry in a minority neighborhood, establishment of senior centers and services for the nutrition and transportation of older residents, and as a sponsor of other community improvement projects.

She soon began to change community attitudes with her friendly, disarming approach to her fellow citizens. She became a community celebrity.

“God gave each of us the ability to do something good in our lives. I chose community service—especially helping those less fortunate,” she often said.

Velma served over 30 years as receptionist for the Weber County Commission. For the past eight years she has worked at United Way of Northern Utah.  Having received an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Weber State University, she proudly displayed her desk nameplate which read, “Dr. Velma Saunders—Receptionist.”

She received many other community awards including Utah’s Older Worker of the Year, Spirit of the American Woman from Your Community Connection, Weber County Citizen of the Year, honors from the Ogden City Council, Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major Award, and an inaugural invitation from the White House.

Velma married Jack Wilson and they had one son, Noel Eugene Wilson, who served in the United States military.  She and Jack were later divorced.  She later married James Harold Saunders and they had a daughter, Valetta, who devoted the last 10 years to looking after her mom with kindness, tolerance, and respect.

Velma was preceded in death by her mother and father, her sister Ethel Dixon, her brother Lawrence Blankinship, her son Noel, and her granddaughter Cheryl Hood.  She is survived by her daughter Valetta and  husband, Dr. Gunter Alberti, of Shawnee Kansas, and grandson Tyrone Wilson.

The family recognizes the caring services of Liza Hernandez, Sara Winslow, Rayonna Hale, Dr. Robert Mohr, Hearts for Hospice, and The Ride of Weber-Morgan Human Services.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, February 23, 2015, 3:00 p.m., at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd.  Friends may visit family on Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Monday from 2 to 2:45 p.m. at the mortuary. Interment, Lindquist’s Washington Heights Memorial Park, 4500 Washington Blvd.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in Velma’s name to United Way of Northern Utah, 2955 Harrison Boulevard, Ogden, Utah 84403.