Vergie Mae Newby Berger; Retired Saleswoman

Vergie Mae Newby Berger, a retired saleswoman, died Friday at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura after a brief illness. She was 88.

Berger was born Aug. 16, 1912, in Palmer, Okla.

She attended schools in Galey, Stratford and Vanoss in Oklahoma, where she excelled in academics and demonstrated a natural set-shot in basketball.

She was an excellent seamstress and needleworker who enjoyed sharing her skills with friends and family members.

She married William Woodrow Berger in Ada, Okla., on Feb. 11, 1932. Ten years later, the couple moved to Ventura.

Berger worked at Sears, Roebuck & Co. until 1968, when she retired to help care for her daughter, Joyce, during her long battle with cancer.

She had been a member of the Mitz-khan-a-khan Chapter of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution in Ventura.

Berger enjoyed playing bingo and bunco with friends at the Patrician Mobile Home Park, working crossword puzzles and reading. She also liked to go to Dodger baseball games or watch them on TV.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years in 1996; daughter, Joyce Eck; brother, Jesse W. Newby; and sister, Lela Newby Shue.

She is survived by two sons, William W. “Woody” Berger Jr. of Las Vegas and Jerry W. Berger of Ventura; one daughter, Roberta Traylor of Ventura; 10 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Services are scheduled at 10 a.m. today at the Ted Mayr Funeral Home in Ventura, which is handling the arrangements.

Burial will be at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura.