Vernal Sylivia (Marlowe) Watts, 93, of Wilton, NH, died Friday, July 31, 2009 at her in Wilton. She was born in Nickelville, PA on December 30, 1915, to the Rev. Alexander and Anna (Bach) Marlowe. Vernal graduated from Pinkerton Academy in Derry; attended New York University; and was also a graduate of the Washington School for Secretaries. During the war years, she worked as a secretary and executive at Halmans Concert Agency and the Girl Scouts Field Division. She also volunteered as a Girl Scout leader and 4-H leader. Vernal married Earl Walter Watts on October 9, 1943, prior to his shipping overseas for the remainder of WWII. Vernal retired to raise two children, Neil Frederick and Rhonda Catherine. She was active as a singer and organist and supported the growth of sidesaddle nationwide, being twice voted Sidesaddle Mother of the Year. She was a communicant of St. Luke’s Anglican Church, Amherst, NH.
She is survived by her son Neil F. Watts of Boston, MA; and her daughter, Rhonda Watts Hettinger and husband Christian of Wilton. She was predeceased by her husband, Earl W. Watts in 2006.
There are no calling hours. Following cremation, a memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 8th at 2:30pm in St. Luke’s Anglican Church, 3 Limbo Lane, Amherst, NH. Private graveside services will be held in the Glenwood Cemetery in Londonderry, NH. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Luke’s Anglican Church, PO Box 131, Amherst, NH 03031 or to the American Sidesaddle Assoc. endowment fund, PO Box 385, Annandale, MN 55302. The Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch St., Derry is handling the arrangements.