Nola W. Vanamburg

Nola Mae Van Amburg

1921-2022

Nola Mae Van Amburg, nee Nola Mae Weiershausen, was born December 11, 1921, and passed away peacefully on August 27, 2022, in Atlanta, Georgia. Nola was a loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Her humor, intelligence, and fierce love for her family and friends will be forever remembered and cherished.

Born into the German community around Fredericksburg, TX, Nola was the daughter of Walther and Minka Weiershausen. English was Nola’s second language. Nola was a child when her family went through the hardships of The Great Depression, and was sixteen years old before electricity was available in her hometown. Nola was an avid student and secretly practiced her reading and writing in the family closet. Following graduation from Fredericksburg High School in 1939, Nola started at Southwest Texas State Teacher’s College in San Marcos, TX. There she met Lee Van Amburg of Crystal City, Missouri.

Nola married Albert Lee Van Amburg, Jr., in 1944. Nola put off getting her college degree while she focused on raising their four children. When Lee’s job took them to St. Louis, MO, she got a position she thoroughly enjoyed at the St. Louis County Public Library in the reference library. It fed her love of knowledge and order.

Nola and Lee divorced in 1973. While working a full-time job, Nola went back to college and received her bachelor’s degree in 1977.

At age 60, Nola began a new career with the United States Postal Service in Houston, TX, where she worked until she was 80 years old!  Nola lived in Katy, TX, and made many friends there among neighbors and co-workers. After retirement, Nola continued living in Katy until December, 2020, when she moved to Atlanta to be closer to family.

In addition to her parents, Nola was pre-deceased by her brothers Steen, Ralph, and Henry Weiershausen, and her sister, Irene Brewster. She is survived by her brother, Erwin Weiershausen (Caroline) of San Angelo, TX.

Nola was pre-deceased by her oldest child, Sharon Van Amburg Radford, which broke her heart. She is survived by a large and caring family including her son-in-law James Radford, sons Albert (Jane Matoesian) and James (Sue Soper Hurd Van Amburg), daughter Mary (Jeb Evans), grandchildren Kristen Walsh (Brian), Anne Radford, James Radford (Nicole), John Van Amburg (Melissa Banks), Joseph Van Amburg (Sarah), Brant Evans (Sky Schulz), Emily Evans (Jeff Lazarus), and Benjamin Van Amburg, and seven great-grandchildren. She is also survived by nieces, nephews, and their extended families.

Nola had a sharp wit and engaging sense of humor. Throughout her life she was an avid student, reader, puzzle-solver, and fan of Mexican food and margaritas! She was renowned for her fried chicken. She enjoyed traveling to see her family: she attended many sports games and graduations, and even went to New Jersey to help with her newborn twin great-grandsons. Nola is remembered for her unwavering commitment to her family, faith and friends. An intelligent and loving mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, cousin and friend, she was one of the “Silent Generation” who blessed the community with her life and presence.

Nola was a lifelong Lutheran, and in Atlanta joined the Peachtree Road Lutheran Church. Pastor Bridgers took communion to Nola at her apartment at The Phoenix at Dunwoody Senior Living facility.

A funeral service will be held at A.S. Turner and Sons, Decatur, Georgia on Saturday, September 10, 2022 at 3:00 pm. Burial private. If you want to make a donation in Nola’s memory, please consider a donation to the Peachtree Road Lutheran Church or a charity of your choice in lieu of flowers. The mailing address for the church is Peachtree Road Lutheran Church, 3686 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30319.