Berta E. Sturgis

This obituary was lovingly written and submitted by the family.

Berta “Bobbi” Elizabeth (Worsham) Sturgis, age 93, passed away on January 17, 2022.

Born 1928 in Crewe, VA, Daughter of John Archer Worsham and  Bessie Miller (Harper) Worsham. Throughout her life she lived in Crewe VA then D.C., Colmar Manor, Lewisdale/Langley Park, Olney and Laurel, MD.  Berta was married to Kenneth C. Viands from 1948 until 1970 during which time she enjoyed being a homemaker and raising their three children, and frequently opened her home to care for extended family members and neighborhood children. Upon their divorce, Berta became a certified nursing assistant at a nursing home where she worked for the next 25 years until her retirement.  She thoroughly enjoyed caring for her patients, frequently bringing their clothes home to wash and press them herself and buying them the things she knew they needed, like new socks, out of her own money. She married Bernard L Sturgis in 1973 and widowed in 1983.

Berta is survived by sons Kenneth Jr. (Linda) and Albert (Nancy) Viands, nephew JD Worsham, grandchildren Robert (Theresa) Sheaffer, Lesley Sheaffer, Kenneth Viands III, Paul Viands, Albert Viands Jr., and numerous great-grandchildren, especially including Robbie, Grace and Angela Sheaffer, who were instrumental, loving and patient in caring for Berta in her later years. Berta was preceded in death by her parents, her step sister Louise Bates, infant sister Mary and brothers David “Buster,” William “Willie,” John “Johnny,” Gordon and Henry Worsham, husband Bernie Sturgis, and beloved daughter Barbara Lee (Viands) Sheaffer.

Visitation will be held Monday, January 31, 2022 at 10 am with services at 12 noon January 31, 2022 at the Donaldson Funeral Home, P.A. 313 Talbott Ave, Laurel, MD 20707. Interment will follow the service at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 13801 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20906.

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