Volna Derry Jr, USAF/Ret. from Sealy, TX passed away on November 12th, 2024 in Tampa, FL at the age of 93. Born in Waelder, TX on April 15, 1931 to Lelia Evans Derry & Volna Derry Sr. He is survived by his loving wife, Juanita Lynch Derry and his two devoted daughters (first marriage), Crystal Derry Votzke (Harold) and Lt Col Ret Sonya Derry Sanders (Reginald), his two grandchildren, Christopher Votzke and Derra Sanders and one great grandchild Elijah Votzke all of Tampa, FL. He is also survived by his sister, Eva Richards (Bryant) of Greenville, TX.; Two step children he helped raise with his first wife (Flora Mae Jenkins, predeceased), Romell Allen and Cassandra Allen (predeceased). Four stepsons (Juanita Lynch), Dr. Terrance Johns (Dorothy) of Lexington, NC, Percell Johns III of Winston-Salem, NC, Courtney Johns of Roanoke, VA and 1SG Ret Army Gus Johns of Killeen, TX. Volna and Juanita have been residents of Sealy for the past 22 years after residing in Houston for 25 years.
Volna accepted Christ as his Lord & Savior early in life at Mount Olive Baptist Church, Armstrong Colony, Waelder, TX under the pastorage of the late Rev. C.V. Everage. After retiring from the Air Force, he returned to Mount Olive and served faithfully until he was no longer able to serve. While at Mt Olive, he became a deacon and also served as Church Treasurer & Chairman of the Cemetery.
He attended Albrecht High School, Armstrong Colony through the eighth grade, Douglas Jr. High School in San Antonio 9th grade, and graduated from Phyllis Wheatley High School in 1951. He attended St Phillip’s Jr. College in 1951, Prairie View A & M University in 1955, and Texas Southern University in 1978 & 1979.
Retired TSGT Volna Derry joined the Air Force in July 1951 and served his country twenty-one and a half years. His duty stations included McClellan AFB, CA; Cheyenne, WY; Tripoli, Libya North Africa; Fuchu Air Station, Japan; MacDill AFB, FL; Sonderstrom AFB, Greenland; Little Rock AFB, AR; Lackland AFB, TX; Karamursel Air Station, Turkey; Goodfellow AFB, TX; USN’s Richfield in the South Pacific with Navy; San Antonio Cryptological Depot, TX; On Na Point, Okinowa; Shu Lin Kou AS, Taiwan; and the Pentagon, Washington, DC where he retired in 1973. He was also employed by the Sheriff’s Department and Occidental Chemical in Houston, TX before returning to the Post Office in which he retired in 2000.
While stationed at MacDill AFB, he met and married Flora Mae Jenkins and married May 31, 1960. To this union three children were born, Crystal Edwina, Sonya Gail and Volnita Rene who died a day after birth.
Volna was preceded in death by his parents, Lelia and Volna Derry Sr, a daughter, Volnita Rene; a step daughter, Cassandra Allen; and siblings: Dolphus Derry, Rosecy R Wilkinson, Norma J Derry, David L. Derry, Velna M Barnhardt (twin) and Cornell W. Derry.
