Arvetta Jo Berner, died Sunday, May 31, 2015 at the age of 92 at Manor Park, Midland, Texas. A memorial service will be held at the Chapel in Manor Park at 10:30 AM Tuesday, June 9, 2015.Arvetta Jo was born on August 23, 1923 in Hygiene, Colorado to Joseph W. and Ernestine Hankins. They moved to California, in 1925 and her father completed his M.D. degree at the Medical School at Loma Linda, California in 1932. He began his practice in Azusa, California in a large converted house on Highway 66. She attended Citrus High School, where she played piano for the orchestra and the Girls Glee Club. She enjoyed playing duets with her mother. She attended USC and pledged Alpha Chi Omega and graduated in 1945.After WW II, she began dating Leo DeWitte Berner, Jr. and they were married on June 28, 1947 in Monrovia, California. They lived in Pacific Beach, California while Dr. Berner completed both his Masters and Ph. D. in Oceanography. During this time Arvetta Jo kept busy with two daughters, Jo Anne & Tina. During the mid 60’s, they moved to Washington, DC where Dr. Berner took a job with the National Science Foundation. The area fueled their love of bird watching and antique collecting. In 1968, they moved to College Station, Texas where he became a Professor of Oceanography. The next year, she joined P.E.O. Chapter BG in Bryan, Texas. During their 34 years in College Station, Arvetta Jo was President of Church Women United, P.E.O. Chapter BG, and Pan Hellenic and New Comers, which were part of the Faculty Wives Club. They remained in College Station until 2002 when they moved to Midland. She kept her ties with P.E.O. by joining Chapter GD at Manor Park.She was preceded in death by her husband, Leo DeWitte Berner, Jr. She is survived by her two daughters, Mrs. Jo Anne Thomas (husband Tommy Thomas) of Arlington Heights, IL; Mrs. Tina Ice (husband Charles Ice III) of Midland, TX; and her sister-in-law, Elizabeth Szabo of Joshua Tree, California. She has 4 grandchildren: Ms. Stephanie Thomas, Indianapolis, IN, Mark Thomas, Rolling Meadows, IL, Charles Ice IV, Austin, TX and Travis Ice, Key Largo, FL. She has two great grandchildren – Levi and Myles Thomas, Rolling Meadows, IL.She enjoyed music, especially the piano and bird watching and antiquing and hearing about the grandchildren and great grandchildren. The family is grateful for all of the wonderful care and support Arvetta Jo received from Home Hospice and other caregivers.Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com.,
