Verna Mae Phelps, 75, of Follett Run Road, Warren, PA, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, September 28, 2012 at UPMC Hamot Medical Center, Erie, Pa.

Verna Mae was born November 3, 1936, in Warren, Pa., the daughter of the late Carl and Bessie Marsh Tower. She was a life member of the First Church of the Nazarene, where she was very active in the Children's Ministry for 53 years.  She was also a member of the W.C.T.U., Warren Central Union President, State Christian Outreach Director for W.C.T.U., and Christian Women's Club of Warren, where she served on the Council.  She was employed for a short time at Blair as a typist and she worked at E.O.C. as an assistant to the teacher.  She dearly loved her family and especially her grandchildren and providing support in all their activities.

She is survived by her husband, Roger Garth Phelps, whom she married on October 24, 1958;  her son, Stephen Phelps, and wife, Jeanna, and their children, Angela Reagle, Bonnie Young, and husband, Sam, Stephanie Phelps, and companion, Derek Goodine, Elizabeth Phelps and Addison Phelps; her daughter, Faye Hammersley, and husband, Timothy, and their children, Nichole, Zachary, Rebecca and Andrew Hammersley; and son, David  Phelps, and wife, Donna, and their children, Trevor, Alyssa and McKenna Phelps; her brother, Leonard Tower, and wife, Betty, Warren, Pa.; and five great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her siblings, Beatrice Babcock, Walter Tower, Virginia Childs and Clarabelle Allison.

Friends will be received at the Peterson - Blick Funeral Home, Inc., 1003 Penn Ave., E., Warren, on Tuesday, October 2, from, 6 to 9 p.m., and for hour prior to a funeral service to be held at the First Church of the Nazarene, 907 Penna. Ave., on Wednesday, October 3 at 11:00 am, with Rev. G. A. Hankins, pastor, officiating.

Burial will be in the Weiler Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to The Verna Mae Phelps Memorial Fund % First Church of the Nazarene, 907 Penn. Ave., E., Warren, PA 16365.

The family will be accepting e-condolences at www.petersonblickfuneralhome.com.