Vonda Marie Conchin, age 92, of Meridianville, passed away Sunday, September 3, 2017. Mrs. Conchin was born Vonda Marie Little in Livingston, Tennessee in 1925. She was a resident of Madison County, Alabama since 1963. She was an exceptional teacher in private and public school settings and in Bible study classes. As a young woman she distinguished herself as an exceptional student, taking top honors in virtually every academic setting.
She attended David Lipscomb College and obtained her BS and Master’s Degrees at East Tennessee State College. She prospered under the guidance of English teacher Christine Burleson, a distinguished graduate of Oxford University in London, reportedly known at the time as one of the ten smartest women in the world. She credited Burleson with “rubbing off on me.”
She taught school at Madison Academy, where her husband Willard once served as principal, in the city and county school systems, and she retired from Hazel Green High School. She also taught at Redstone and NASA for Communication Skills Com- pany, teaching fundamentals of English, Reading Improvement, Clear Writing, Report Writing, Speed Reading and other courses designed to improve the communication skills of government workers. A common assessment from hundreds of her former students was “best teacher I ever had.” She obtained her educational accomplishments while working her way through school including, waiting tables in the David Lipscomb cafeteria, where she met her husband of 73 years, Willard Conchin. Together they raised five children and provided all of them with the benefits of a Christian education. Her favorite book was the Bible and her favorite song was Amazing Grace. Her favorite flowers were roses.
She helped her husband write, edit and publish sixty-seven church study work books which have been sold throughout the country and in several foreign countries. Perhaps her most thankless but important role was caring for a special needs child at home for over 50 years.
Mrs. Conchin was proud of her Tennessee heritage. She was a direct descendant of the first Governor of Tennessee, John Sevier, born September 23, 1745. Sevier came from France to England because of religious persecution and then to America, where he settled in the Shennandoah Valley. Sevier developed extraordinary skills in English composition and wrote eloquently when drafting state and private papers. Mrs. Conchin was honored by the East Tennessee Historical Society as a member of the First Families of Tennessee.
Mrs. Conchin is survived by her loving husband of 73 years, Willard D. Conchin; and by three of their five children, son Barton, retired Air Force of New Bern, North Carolina, son Gary V. Conchin, Huntsville attorney and daughter Tena Louise Conchin, a resident of Genesis Care.
She is preceded in death by her two lovely daughters, Rita Maples and Anita Anderson. She is also survived by seven grandsons, Jason Conchin and Gary V, Conchin, Jr. of Huntsville, Alabama, Todd Maples of Brentwood, Tennessee, Chad Maples of Wichita, Kansas, Wesley Gamble and Russ Gamble of Nashville, Tennessee, Michael Conchin of San Antonio, Texas; and one granddaughter, Dorothy Conchin Howell of North Carolina. She is survived by eleven great-grandchildren, Ayden, Jude and Emmett Conchin, Chloe, Emme Kay, and Zachary Maples, Christopher and James Maples, Bryce Conchin, Summer and Jonathon Howell. Mrs. Conchin had a lot of special friends, including, but not limited to, Mary Ann Lowery, Alice Ivey and Jean Irwin. She had a wonderful and loving relationship with her daughter-in-law, Mary Ann, Gary’s wife. Special thanks are due to caregivers Norma Isabelle, Annette Smith and Suzanne Franklin, who grew to love her and took great care of her.
The family will receive friends Tuesday, September 5, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Meridianville Church of Christ with services to follow. Burial will be at Maple Hill Cemetery with Berryhill Funeral Home assisting the family.
To the extent mere words and phrases can describe and define her lengthy life, those words would be Christian, teacher, integrity, selflessness, dedication, brilliance and a demand for excellence in all things.
