Rhoda Vernon was born in Boston on May 12, 1926, to Herman and Lillian Sterman.
She met her husband, David when they were both 13 years old. They married on June 1, 1947, and she thought they would spend their lives in the Boston area. Their journey took a different path, as they lived in New York, New York, Houston, Texas, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Seattle, Washington before coming to Iowa City in 1966. They also lived other places when David was a visiting Law Professor including San Francisco, California, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, St. Louis, Missouri, Lawrence, Kansas, Houston, Texas, Durham, England, Wellington, New Zealand, and Melbourne, Australia.
Iowa City has been her home since 1966.
Her life revolved around David, her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She volunteered for Planned Parenthood in Seattle and UNICEF in Iowa City. She also volunteered at the U of I Hospitals for 40 years. She loved Broadway Theatre and enjoyed Hancher in Iowa City for many years.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, David and her parents.
She is survived by her daughter Amy Sturtevant of Iowa City, her son and daughter-in-law, Chuck and Alyse Vernon of Austin, Texas, her grandson, Nathan of New York City, her granddaughter and grandson-in-law, Carly and Paul Langley of Austin, Texas, her grandson and granddaughter-in-law, Mike Vernon and Coco Greenblum of Santa Monica, California and her great-grandchildren, Jane and Clark Langey of Austin, Texas.
A celebration of Rhoda's life will be held in the "Heiden Room" at Oaknoll, 735 George St., Saturday, December 7, 2024, from 2 pm until 4 pm. Remarks by the family at 2:15 pm. Light refreshments will be served. Parking will be available on George Street. Feel free to wear something purple in Rhoda's honor.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Iowa City Hospice, 1526 Sycamore St, Iowa City IA 52240, online at Iowacityhospice.org or to the Oaknoll Foundation, 1 Oaknoll Ct, Iowa City, IA 52246 or online at oaknoll.com/foundation