Sara Virginia Ranck Werntz

SARA VIRGINIA RANCK WERNTZ, age 94, of Dandridge, TN died at home on August 12, 2013. She was the wife of the late Claude Hershey Werntz, to whom she was married for 66 years before he died in 2004. Born in Valley Township, PA on July 13, 1919, she was the daughter of the late Parke Edgar and Alma Bernard Ranck. A 1936 graduate of Scott Senior High School, she was secretary for the trucking company her husband owned and operated from 1941 to 1981. Before moving to Dandridge in 2003, Sara and her husband resided for 52 years in the home they built at 34 Reeceville Road, Coatesville, PA. A member of the Forks of the Brandywine Evangelical Presbyterian Church for 67 years, she was a deacon, secretary of the Sunday School and president of her Sunday School class. She was a past president of the Caln Civic Club, the YWCA and the Red Cross of Coatesville. Active in the Chester County Young Republicans, she served as a hostess for Mamie Eisenhower during the Eisenhower's 1952 campaign visit to Philadelphia. An avid bridge player, she was a member of several bridge groups. She was preceded in death by her husband, an infant son, her brother, Marvin Ranck, and her sister, Alice Dunlap. She is survived by her daughter, Susan Lord (John) of Dandridge, TN; grandsons, Barry Gastrock, Jr. (Kay) of NE, and Kurt Gastrock (Nancy) of VA; step-grandsons, Stephen Lord (Mary) of MD and Timothy Lord of TX; step-granddaughter, Nancy Lord (Matthew) of MD; great-grandson, Jason Gastrock; great-granddaughters, Sheena, Tanya, Erin and Abbey Gastrock; and nieces and nephews. Services will be at a later date.