Funeral service for Salona Carolyn Wachs, 86, of Aberdeen will be 1 p.m. Friday, July 26, 2013, at First United Methodist Church in Aberdeen. The Rev. Eldon Reich and the Rev. Fr. Justin M. Wachs will officiate.
Burial in Sunset Memorial Gardens.
Visitation will be Thursday from 2 to 6 p.m. at the funeral home.
Salona died July 21, 2013.
Salona Carolyn Cornett, daughter of Kelly and Bertie Carolyn (Brashears) Cornett, was born Oct. 2, 1926, at Portland, Ore. She grew up and attended school in Arkansas. She received her bachelor of arts degree in 1947 from the University of Arkansas. Salona resided in Arkansas for 21 years and Denver, Colo., for one year.
She was united in marriage to Robert Wachs on Aug. 6, 1949, in Fayetteville, Ark. They resided in Greeley, Colo., one year, Wauneta, Neb., three years, Aberdeen, one year, Kansas City, Kan., one year, and eventually in 1955, settled in Aberdeen. For a number of years, Salona was the office manager at First United Methodist Church. Community and church volunteerism was a large part of her life.
Salona enjoyed gardening and loved to attend her grandchildren's activities. She was a member of First United Methodist Church, past Altar Guild President and a past AAUW President. She was active in Bridge Club and a member of Moccasin Creek Country Club. She was honored as First Lady of Aberdeen in 1970, Service to Mankind Award in 1974 and SD School Board Member of the Year in 1979. Salona was active in PTA, NSU Faculty Wives, Salvation Army, St. Luke's Hospital Auxiliary and served on the first board of the Boys and Girls Club. She had been on the Foster Grandparent Board and, also, for eight years was on the Aberdeen Board of Education.
Salona is survived by two sons: Dr. David (Marilyn) Wachs of Aberdeen and Steven (Debra) Wachs of Dallas, Texas; daughter-in-law, Maureen "Pink" Wachs of Norman, Okla.; "adopted son", Bob (Eileen) Graham of Aberdeen; sister-in-law, Margaret Cornett of Little Rock, Ark.; 12 grandchildren; and 9 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband in 1993; son, Richard in 1997; two brothers; and one sister.
Casketbearers will be Salona's grandchildren: The Rev. Fr. Justin M. Wachs, Kelly Lickteig, Anthony Wachs, Christopher Wachs, Andrew Wachs, Teresa McCoy, Mary Elizabeth Wachs, Cody Wachs, Tracy Wachs, Stephanie Wachs, Jeremy Wachs and Gregory Graham.
The organist will be Dr. Allan Jacobson with special music by Mary Elizabeth Wachs and Terry White. The ushers will be Joel and Mary Hornaman and there will be a reading and eulogy by family members.
The family prefers memorials to Robert Wachs Memorial Endowment at NSU.
Carlsen Funeral Home and Crematory of Aberdeen has been entrusted with arrangements.
carlsenfh.com