Verna Doris Miltz

Verna D.Miltz, age 76, of Grand Rapids, passed away on Saturday, December 20, 2025, surrounded by her loving husband and daughter.  She was born April 18, 1949 to the late Howard and Verna Aldrich. In her grammar-school years, Verna and her mother were active members of the Oddfellows Rebekah Lodge sponsored traveling Gypsy Dancers show group, once personally dancing for Michigan Governor G. Mennen Williams.  Verna graduated from Union High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  While in her twenties, Verna lived in England for several years, touring Medieval castles and experiencing British culture.  Returning to America, she chose to begin her family.  While raising her own family, Verna served her community working part-time for the Grand Rapids Police Department as a crossing guard, protecting children on a hazardous major thoroughfare.  Verna eventually retired in 2015 from Gerald R. Ford Airport, where she worked concourse food service and mixology for ten years. Post-retirement, Verna’s favorite activity was devoting more time to her lifelong hobby of antiquing, seeking out estate and garage sales to find various treasures.  She and her husband collected the more notable trinkets and collectibles for over 25 years, reselling the remainder at two major antique malls in West Michigan.  She loved Barbie dolls, and over the years managed to discover, collect, and display more than 100 of them, from the first vintage productions through the present day.  Verna loved her family, dogs, and butterflies, and because of her lifestyle, gained the nickname “Cinderella”.  She was truly loved and will be missed by all who have known her.

She will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 43 years, Floyd; a daughter; Michelle (Oliver) Foreman and a son, Tommy Bone, Jr. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by a brother, Fred Stevens.

There will be no services scheduled at this time.  Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider donations sent to the Mackenzie’s Animal Sanctuary; 8935 Thompson Rd. Lake Odessa, MI.  48849.