Vera Batten Obituary

Vera Gruber Batten ESTILL, SC - Vera Gruber Batten, 98, died peacefully at her home early Monday morning, September 7, 2015. She was born March 20, 1917 in Walterboro, SC, the daughter of the late Vivienne Price Gruber and Marshall G. Gruber. She was a graduate of Winthrop College, where she held a Dining Room Scholarship. This required assisting with meals three times a day, seven days a week for the first three years of college. She then came to Estill to teach where she met D. Wise Batten, Jr. They were married on July 2, 1940. Mrs. Batten taught at Estill High School for 31 years. She was a sponsor of the school newspaper and, in some years, the yearbook as well. At Lawtonville Baptist Church she was a faithful member: faithful in attendance, faithful as a member of the Woman's Missionary Union since 1940, faithful teaching the Pre-School Sunday School Class for 35 years. In the community she will be remembered for her acts of kindness: a card to the sick, a plate of cookies or a meal for a family. She will be remembered by her students for giving them skills they needed in their business and also the example she set for them of caring, humility, and grace. She was a giving mother to her family. She is survived by a daughter, Vivienne B. Wiggins (R. G. Wiggins III) of Estill; a son, Wise Henry Batten (Brenda Peeples Batten) of Estill; four grandchildren: Joseph Maner Bostick III (Jody), Robert Batten Bostick (Lisa); Lee Elizabeth Batten, and Wise H. Batten, Jr. (Betsy); eight great-grandchildren: Joseph, MacKenzie, Kendall, Landon Bostick; Meagan, Hannah, Batten Bostick; and Wise H. Batten III; one great-great granddaughter, Stephanie Bostick; and a sister-in-law, Mary Frances B. Cone. Mrs. Batten was pre-deceased by her loving husband of 68 years, D. Wise Batten, a sister, May Price, a brother, Gerald Gruber; two brothers-in-law and one great-grandson. Services will be held Wednesday, September 9, 2015, at Lawtonville Baptist Church, 11 AM with interment immediately following at Lawtonville Cemetery. The Reverend Joe Hester and the Reverend Doctor James F. Norris will officiate. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, September 8, from 5 until 7 PM at the home, 783 Fourth Street East, Estill, SC. Memorials may be made to Lawtonville Baptist Church, PO Box 1057, Estill, SC 29918. Peeples-Rhoden Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ charleston