* Verona ‘Ronnie’ Waltz; Former Legal Secretary

Verona “Ronnie” Jean Waltz, a former legal secretary and a 20-year Ventura resident, died March 11 after a long battle with cancer. She was 75.

Born in Heber City, Utah, on May 18, 1923, Waltz moved with her parents to Los Angeles when she was 4. Enrolled in an accelerated academic program, she graduated from high school at 16.

She then went to work as a legal secretary for the Navy. When she was 18, she married Elmo Callis and had two sons. Callis was sent overseas to fight during World War II and never returned.

Four years later, she married James E. Waltz, and they had three sons. She continued to work as a legal secretary for private law firms while raising her children in Bellflower.

The family was tight-knit and even built two cabins together from the ground up, said her son, Larry Waltz.

Because she had a love of antiques, the couple often visited historic gold-mining towns in Northern California. Waltz also enjoyed antique car shows and collecting vintage items.

After her husband died, Waltz moved to Ventura to be close to her son Larry and for a change of pace.

She went to work for a private law firm and then the Ventura County public defender’s office, where she stayed for 10 years before retiring.

But Waltz didn’t relax too long. She took over running Larry Waltz’s three real estate businesses.

“Working is what gave her a sense of value, contribution, participation in the lives of those that meant the most to her,” her son said.

She continued as office manager for her son although she was diagnosed with cancer more than seven years ago. Although she battled the various tumors in her body, she rarely missed a day at work and often put in more than nine hours a day, her son said.

In January, she was no longer strong enough to make it to the office. But she continued to work on a home computer, helping her son however she could.

Waltz was known to friends and family as kind and gracious, her son said.

“One of her mottoes was, ‘There is never any reason not to be nice to someone,’ ” Larry Waltz said. “She treated all people with the type of respect you would have for a king.”

Along to Larry, she is survived by sons Gary Waltz and Steven Waltz of Redding, Dennis Waltz of Nipomo and James Waltz Jr. of Bellflower; 21 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services have been held, but donations can be made to a foundation being set up her name. Mail donations to the Verona J. Waltz Service Above Self Foundation, 1884 Eastman Ave., Suite 102, Ventura 93003.