July 16, 1922 – Nov. 14, 2018

VIDALIA — Verna Lou Barnes Wurster, 96, died Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, at her residence.

Arrangements are under the direction of Young’s Funeral Home.

Mrs. Wurster was born July 16, 1922, in Concordia Parish. She married the love of her life, Charles Wurster Jr. of Jonesville, on Nov. 25, 1945. After receiving her bachelor of science degree from Louisiana State Normal College, she taught school in both Ferriday and Jonesville. Over the years, Mrs. Wurster was involved in the Jonesville Women’s Club, helping to make her community a better place. She was the regional director for Stonecroft Christian Women’s Club as well as an active member in her local church. Her greatest love was to teach women how to live a Godly life by following the Word of God.

Wurster was preceded in death by her husband; two brothers, Arvel and Dwight Barnes; two sisters, Patsy Haley and Hazel Sampite; granddaughter, Charli Deanna Knapp; grandson, Robert Ryerson; and son-in-law, Kirk Bean.

Survivors include four daughters, Lynda Deniger and husband, Ron, of Abita Springs, La., Mildred Bean of Lake Dallas, Texas, Cynthia Cimini and husband, Roland, of Alexandria, La., and Charla Knapp and husband, David, of Natchez; adopted daughter, Diane Thornton of Pineville, La.; nine grandchildren, Patricia Cazenave and husband, Mike, Damon Bean and wife, Kim, Reneé King and husband, Jay, Erica McLendon and husband, Jonathan, Ryan Cimini, Chelsey McMillan and husband, Brad, Shayne Knapp and wife, Rachel, Darren Knapp and wife, Macy, and Nathan Knapp; adopted grandchildren, Angela Thornton Moore and husband, Jamey, and David Thornton and wife, Jennifer; eight great-grandchildren, Mikhail Cazenave, Tristan Cazenave, Hailey Felter and husband, Steven, Layne King, Kinley King, Jase McClendon, Roman Knapp and due in February, Hart Knapp; one great-great-grandson, Hudson Felter; and one sister, Margaret Helen Pierson of Natchitoches, La.

Pallbearers will be Damon Bean, Shayne Knapp, Ryan Cimini, Darren Knapp, Nathan Knapp and David Thornton.

Honorary pallbearers will be Ronald Deniger, David Knapp and Roland Cimini.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to First Baptist Church of Vidalia Mission Fund, 100 N. Hickory St., Vidalia, LA 71373; Samaritan’s Purse, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607, samaritanpurse.org; Mission to the World, David and Jan Thomas Account No. 17411, P.O. Box 744165, Atlanta, GA 40374-4165.