Vera Christman, Promoter of YMCA Activities, Dies

Vera A. Christman, a member of a pioneer California family and well-known in San Diego for promoting YMCA activities, died Wednesday of a heart attack at Mercy Hospital. She was 74.

Mrs. Christman, along with her late husband, Howard, executive secretary of the YMCA’s northwest section, was active in expanding YMCA programs from Point Loma to La Jolla.

Mrs. Christman also assisted her husband in leading expeditions for boys in the YMCA to Mt. Whitney, Alaska, Hawaii and Europe, and both were involved in developing the Camp Marston summer programs.

She was also an accomplished pianist and had accompanied well-known singers such as John Raitt.

Mrs. Christman was a member of a pioneering California family that arrived in the San Jose area in a covered wagon in 1859. Her grandfather was a longtime sheriff of Santa Clara County and her father, Amos Williams, was county coroner there. She and her husband moved to San Diego in 1949 and lived for many years in Point Loma.

Mrs. Christman is survived by two sons, Paul and Stanley; a daughter, Shirley McKim; eight grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren, all of San Diego.

Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the First United Methodist Church in Mission Valley.