Zola Werle

Funeral services for Zola Werle, a 94-year-old Buffalo resident, who passed away Monday at the Johnson County Health Care Center, will be held later this spring. In lieu of flowers, donations in Zola’s name may be made to the Susie Bowling Lawrence Hospice at 497 W. Lott Street, Buffalo, Wyoming 82834 or the Buffalo Senior Center Home Health Services at 671 W Fetterman Street, Buffalo, Wyoming 82834. Online condolences may be made at www.harnessfuneralhome.com.

Zola Gail Werle was born on May 21, 1931, in Midwest, Wyoming, to Lyle and Norma Lamb. She attended school in the Midwest, graduating in 1950. She married Robert Darnall on August 4, 1950, in Midwest.

The newlyweds made their first home in Lusk, Wyoming, where their two daughters, Vicky and Rhonda, were born. The family later moved to Newcastle, and Robert was eventually transferred to Chester, Montana. Robert and Zola divorced in 1967.

Zola attended college in Great Falls, Montana, and then continued her aviation schooling in Kansas City, Missouri. After completing her training, she moved to Florida, where she worked in aviation until 1999.

She married Joseph Werle of Ohio in 1999, and the couple lived in Ohio until 2014, when Zola moved to Buffalo. She remained in Buffalo until her death. While living there, she spent much of her time at the Buffalo Senior Center and resided at the Clear Creek Apartments. She especially enjoyed her volunteer work at the Center.

She is survived by her daughters, Vicky Gerhardt of Buffalo and Rhonda Jay of Waldorf, Maryland; her grandchildren, Chris Yoder and his wife Christine of Pennsylvania, Jenilee Jay and her husband Eric of Maryland, and Stephen Jay and his wife Kristin of Virginia; five great-grandchildren; and two nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Joseph Werle; her sister, Eileen Pierson; and her brother, Eugene Lamb.