Naureene Springer Wenger died on November 7, 2016, at 94 years old. She was born on May 12, 1922 to Evie Shepherd Springer and Bernard Herman Springer in Buckingham County, the third of their six children. She married Karl Frederick Wenger in April of 1942, just before he entered the Army Air Force in WWII. Naureene moved her family around the country for Karl’s work, first in the military, and then in the U.S. Forest Service. She had the opportunity to live in the deep south and the mid-Atlantic; in the big city and in the country; near the ocean and in the mountains. And she happily collected artwork and memories from all the places she lived in and visited. But for her, home was always central Virginia, in Buckingham County. That was where she wanted to visit, to vacation, and to rest. In fact, her last excursion, a mere two weeks before her death, was to Buckingham.

Naureene loved to read, sew and knit, play the piano, guitar, and ukulele. She also enjoyed gardening and cooking. In recent years she continued her love of card games by playing Free Cell and Spider on her iPad. Naureene loved her family, and was determined to keep in touch with her children, grandchildren, siblings, cousins, and extended relations. She was happiest when she was able to make something someone would enjoy, from food for visitors to sweaters for the latest babies. Most of all, Naureene loved her Lord. Although she was brought up in the church, she came fully into the faith as an adult and was passionate about knowing Him and telling others about His love. She always had a scripture in mind for any occasion and could be found reading the Bible at almost any time, while praying for the people she knew and knew about.

She loved learning and went back to college, graduating in 1961, after being inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. After earning a Master’s degree, she worked in the field of social work for a number of years, first working in rehabilitation from alcohol addiction, and then working with the elderly. She loved people and loved working to help make their lives better.

Her parents, three siblings, and husband pre-deceased her. She is survived by her two children, Karlynn Wenger Bucher (Bruce) of Tappahannock, and Karl Frederick Wenger Jr. (Kathie) of Bedford, Pennsylvania; six grandchildren, Kimberly Bucher Maher (Marcus) of Vienna, Kristen Bucher Hahn (Jim) of Falls Church, Kimberly Lufsey Parkin (Brian) of Saline, Michigan, Erik Karl Wenger (Missy) of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Kevin Earl Wenger of Bedford, Pennsylvania, and David Frederick Wenger (Carly) of Niagara Falls, New York. She was also the proud great-grandmother of Jonathan and Thomas Maher, Patrick Hahn, William, Nathaniel, and Katherine Parkin, Isabelle, Emelia, and Audrey Wenger, and Olivia and Samuel Wenger. She is also survived by two sisters, Edith Minckler of Makanda, Illinois, and Ruth Reynolds of Roanoke, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition, she is survived by two faithful caregivers who have become family, Karen Akers and Ella Brimmer.

A funeral service will be held at Dunkum Funeral Home in Dillwyn at 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 12. Family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until the hour of service. Interment will follow at Buckingham Community Cemetery in Buckingham.

Dunkum Funeral Home, Dillwyn, is in charge of arrangements. www.dunkumfuneralhome.com