Schlitt, Jerry V.

Jerry V. Schlitt joined her beloved husband James (Jim) L Schlitt in heaven on 24 Apr 2022 . Born in 1922 in Memphis MO she graduated from Memphis high school where she had been the bands majorette due to her good looks and height While in school her mom passed away at the age of 46 which had a profound impact on Jerry as she decided to spend the rest of her life caring for others. This lead her to enroll in nursing school where she graduated in 1944 With the war raging she joined her brother Charles (Mick) Walker by serving in the military. She was commissioned a 2nd LT in the US Army Nurse Corp in 1945 and sent to Riley hospital where she met a young SSgt paraplegic nicknamed Jim who had a great sense of humor and was always upbeat. After an appropriate amount of courting and over the objections of some of her family they married happily ever after in 1946.

In 1949, while still living with Jim’s family, they started planning a family and building a home that was wheelchair friendly. The house, specially designed with no steps and wide doorways, was completed in 1950 – Jerry lived there until 2018. They began the adoption process in Sep of 49 and finally in Mar of 52 they adopted their son Tim – good things come to those who wait After a few years they decided to try their luck again and adopted their daughter Terry – twice lucky. Jerry always told her children how lucky and fortunate that she and Jim were to be able to become their parents. Jerry and Jim became more active in the community and in 1978 were named Affton’s co-citizen of the year. Unfortunately Jim died in 1979 and with time Jerry grew restless and decided to re-train as a nurse. She went back to work in 1980 working the evening shift at Deaconess Hospital until retiring in 1992. In 1982 she became a Grandma and really did her best to spoil her grandchildren buying unique and meaningful gifts for the entire family.

Not one to spend her time idly she spent her retirement years volunteering for different organizations. She spent decades with the Pioneers club working at their downtown gift store during the week and spending weekends at Jefferson Barracks helping rehab an old officer’s quarters as it was converted to a telephone museum. For her work she was honored with the Volunteer of the Year Award. Jerry also volunteered to teach children to read at two elementary schools and has numerous thank you notes and letters from her students. Jerry was partial to the military so in her 80s and 90s she worked the midnight to 0600 shift two days a month at the Lambert USO helping military members as they flew through Lambert Airport.

As hard working as Jerry was she had many neighbors, friends, co-workers, family, and co-volunteers who had helped her throughout the years – they know who they are. In her later years she would occasionally reminiscence about all of her fellow WW2 era veterans, neighbors, and friends who brought her joy and happiness . At 99 she was one of the last of her group of the greatest generation.

Jerry was predeceased by her parents Tom and Lila (Tinney) Walker, her brother Charles (Mick) and Ginny (Sarsfield) Walker. Jerry is survived by her son Tim and Patricia (Little) Schlitt, and daughter Terry (Schlitt) and Lonnie Little. Her four grandchildren Tammy Crouch, Tracy , James, and Kacy and her nieces and nephews miss her dearly.

Services: Visitation Sunday, May 1st 4-8 p.m. at KUTIS SOUTH COUNTY CHAPEL 5255 Lemay Ferry Rd. St. Louis, MO. Funeral Service Monday, May 2nd 9 a.m. Burial to follow at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.