Verna Garver, born on April 16, 1927, was previously married to Clint Walker, the esteemed American actor and singer who passed away in 2018. Sadly, Garver herself passed away in 2014 at the age of 87.
During their two-decade marriage, Clint Walker and Verna Garver welcomed a daughter. Although Clint’s prominence as an actor grew after their divorce in 1968, there continues to be public curiosity about Verna Garver’s life. Discover more about her story below, exploring her life beyond her connection to the well-known actor.
Quick Profile
| Full name | Verna Lucille Garver Walker |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of Birth | 16 Apr 1927 |
| Death | 27 Nov 2014 |
| Nationality | American |
| Marital Status | Divorced |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Famous As | Ex-Wife of legendary actor, Clint Walker |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
| Zodiac Sign | Aries |
Verna Garver Early Life
Verna Lucille Garver came into the world on April 16, 1927, in Anna, a community nestled within Union County, Illinois. Her heritage traced back to an American family of European descent, firmly rooted in the Christian faith, with Jesse Albert Graver and Cuba Mabel St John Graver as her parents.
Information about Verna’s educational pursuits and career endeavors remains limited, but she gained recognition chiefly through her marriage to a renowned actor. Among her siblings, Verna held the position of the youngest, sharing kinship with three sisters, including Vera Luella Garver West and Virginia Lee Garvey. It’s been suggested that she also had a half-sibling, Leonard Garver, and grew up alongside her two older sisters.
Vera Garver West, born on March 29, 1923, in Pennsylvania, embarked on a distinctive journey. Her union with Oscar resulted in two daughters, Pamela Dawn and Vera Sue. Despite their shared history, circumstances led to Vera’s separation from Oscar, subsequently remarrying Lauren West. Unfortunately, Vera’s life concluded in California on September 24, 2014, precisely two months before Verna’s passing.
A year following the birth of their first daughter, the Garver family welcomed their second daughter, Virginia Lee Garver, on November 11, 1924. Virginia found love with James Voiles Wallace as his second wife, and together they nurtured a family, bringing two children into their lives.
Verna Garver’s Parents
Limited details are accessible regarding Verna Garver’s parents, identified as Jesse Albert and Cuba Mabel St. John Garver. Unfortunately, comprehensive information regarding their lives and backgrounds remains elusive. This lack of personal information is a common aspect, particularly concerning older individuals, especially those who lived their lives away from public attention. The available insights about Verna Garver and her immediate family members are derived from existing sources, highlighting the challenge of uncovering detailed personal histories for individuals less prominent in public records.
Verna Siblings
Verna, the youngest among her siblings, had two older sisters named Vera Luella Garver West and Virginia Lee Garver Wallace. Vera, the eldest sister, was born on March 29, 1923, in Pennsylvania. After her marriage to Oscar J. Beatty, she later married Lauren E. West. Unfortunately, Vera passed away at the age of 91 on September 24, 2014, marking a somber moment for the family.
Virginia, another sister of Verna, was born on November 11, 1924, and passed away on November 17, 2006, at the age of 82. She was married to James Voiles Wallace, and their union blessed them with two children: James Dana and Kimberly Diane. Their shared lives added unique threads to the tapestry of the Garver family’s history.
Verna Garver gained prominence after marrying Clint Walker
Details about the romantic journey between Clint and Verna remain undisclosed, yet they courted for approximately a year before their marriage in 1948. Clint’s first marriage to Verna predates his venture into acting. Their union brought forth a daughter, Valerie Walker, but after twenty years together, the couple separated in 1968.
Despite their divorce occurring before Clint’s rise to fame, Verna’s association with him continues to draw interest today, primarily due to her past marriage to the renowned actor. Her relevance is often tied to this former connection with the celebrated actor.
Clint Walker and Verna Garver were born in the year 1927
Norman Eugene Walker, famously known as Clint Walker, entered the world on May 30, 1927, in Hartford, Illinois, born to Gladys Huldah and Arnold Walker. Clint shared his birth year with his twin sister, Lucille Walker. His early years involved schooling locally before taking on jobs at a factory and later on a riverboat. At the age of 17, he embarked on a stint in the United States Merchant Marine as World War II drew to a close.
Before his illustrious acting career, Clint worked as a deputy sheriff. It was his roles in “Jungle Gents” and “Ten Commandments” that garnered attention and earned him a favorable recommendation to Warner Bros. In 1955, he secured a part in the film “Cheyenne” as Cheyenne Bodie, a nomadic cowboy hero navigating the post-Civil War American landscape.
This significant role propelled him into stardom, marking the beginning of a four-decade-long acting journey. Beyond his Hollywood success, Clint possessed a captivating and melodious voice. Some of his notable songs included “Whispering Hope,” “With These Hands,” “Love at Home,” “I Believe,” among others, showcasing his diverse talents beyond the realm of acting.
Verna Garver Daughter
Valerie Walker is the daughter of Verna Garver. Verna tied the knot with the renowned actor and singer Clint Walker in 1950, and Valerie was born into their union. An aviation trailblazer, Valerie Walker emerged as one of the early female pioneers in the field. Her remarkable career led her to retire as an airline captain, notably shattering gender barriers prevalent in aviation during her time.
Valerie is a proud mother to her son, Cory Patton. While detailed information about Valerie’s background and career remains somewhat limited, her accomplishments as a female pilot stand as a testament to the legacy of women who courageously challenged societal norms and stereotypes in their respective professional domains.
Did she enter into another marriage following her divorce?
Verna chose not to remarry after her divorce. Her primary focus became raising their daughter, who was 18 years old at the time of her separation from Clint. Despite the end of her marriage with Clint, Verna retained his surname and was recognized as “Verna Lucille Garver Walker” until her passing.
Conversely, Clint proceeded to marry two more times following their separation. His second marriage was to Giselle Hennesy in 1974, which lasted for 20 years until Giselle’s passing in 1994. Subsequently, the acclaimed actor entered his third marriage with Susan Cavallari in 1997, and their partnership endured until Walker’s passing in 2018.
Valerie Walker, the daughter of Verna Garver, and Cory Patton, her grandson, are the surviving members of her family
The exact cause of Verna Garver’s passing remains undisclosed in the most recent available information. On November 27, 2014, at the age of 87, Verna departed, leaving this world. Her passing occurred in Salt Lake City, located in Salt Lake County, Utah.
Valerie Walker, the sole child of Verna, was born to Verna and Clint in 1950. She made history as one of the pioneering female pilots in the United States and internationally. Following her tenure as a pilot with Delta Airlines, Valerie transitioned into teaching martial arts.
Furthermore, Verna is survived by her grandson, Cory Patton, who is Valerie’s son. Verna shared a deep bond with Cory and played a significant role in shaping his upbringing, signifying the strong affection between them.
What was Verna Garver’s occupation or profession?
Information about Verna Garver’s occupation remains undisclosed in the public domain. Our available data suggests that she prioritized her role as a homemaker rather than pursuing a career outside the home. However, her former husband, Clint Walker, established himself as a well-known actor in the United States.
Clinton, born in Hartford, Illinois, on May 30, 1927, commenced his entertainment career in 1954. He gained widespread recognition for portraying Cheyenne Bodie in the TV series “Cheyenne” from 1955 to 1963, despite his initial appearance as Tarzan in the lesser-known film “Jungle Gents.”
Throughout his remarkable 45-year career in entertainment, Clint, towering at an impressive height of 6 feet and 6 inches, ventured into numerous other TV shows and films. His notable credits include “The Ten Commandments,” “Fort Dobbs,” “More Dead Than Alive,” “Scream of the Wolf,” “Baker’s Hawk,” and several other significant projects.
Verna Garver passed away when she was 87 years old
Verna passed away quietly on November 27, 2014, at the age of 87, in her home in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her death was probably caused by natural causes, albeit this is yet unknown.
Her last resting place is in Cottonwood Heights, Salt Lake County, Utah’s Mountain View Memorial Estates Cemetery. Her life and demise were honored in an obituary published in the Salt Lake Tribune.
Not only that, but Verna’s ex-husband Clint passed suddenly from congestive heart failure on May 21, 2018, in Grass Valley, California, at the age of 90, nine days shy of turning 91.
Final Words
Verna Garver lived a life that remained largely out of the public eye, yet her connection to the renowned actor Clint Walker often drew interest. Beyond this association, she embraced the roles of a devoted mother to her daughter, Valerie, and a cherished member of her family. Despite limited information about her personal endeavors, her influence is evident in the achievements of her daughter, Valerie, a pioneering female pilot. Verna’s legacy is woven into the tapestry of aviation history, a testament to her impact on the lives of those she held dear.
