Allan & Verna Severance

With gratitude for lives well lived and hearts full of love, the family of Allan Eugene Severance and Verna Ellen Severance announces their passing. Verna passed away on February 10, 2025, at the age of 95, and Allan followed her on April 15, 2026, at the age of 97. Though separated for just over a year, after nearly seventy-five years of marriage they will be together once again on resurrection morning.

Allan was born on Christmas Day, 1928, in Long Beach, California, to Erwin and Eleanor (Torrey) Severance. As a young child, he moved with his family to Pomona, where he grew up. He attended Pomona Junior Academy and later Los Sierra Academy, where he played drums in the school band. He earned an Associate of Arts degree in aircraft maintenance from Mt. San Antonio College and married Verna in April 1950.

Allan worked for 32 years at Kaiser Steel before managing his son's medical practice for another 30 years. His greatest joy was caring for his family. Whether planning cross-country vacations, making sure everyone was comfortable, or quietly helping wherever he was needed, he expressed his love through acts of service. He was the family's rock of Gibraltar.

His love of flying began when he earned his private pilot's license at just sixteen years old. One of his favorite adventures was sharing the flying duties with his son on a trip to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, for the 2005 EAA AirVenture airshow. He also enjoyed photography, serving as president of the local photography club, and once won a prize for one of his photographs at the Los Angeles County Fair. Allan was a gifted storyteller, as his grandchildren will gladly attest, and he leaves them with treasured memories that will be shared for generations.

Verna was born on March 24, 1929, in Jackson County, Ohio, to Foster and Mexie (Hall) McCoy. She grew up on a small farm with her five brothers as the only daughter in the family. In eighth grade, she won the Jackson County Spelling Bee. At eighteen, she moved with her family to Southern California, where she worked for the Automobile Club of Southern California (AAA) and later served as secretary of the Pomona Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Verna had a lifelong curiosity and love of learning. She especially loved history, genealogy, needlework, cooking, and playing games with her family. She rarely missed a San Francisco Giants baseball game or a good tennis match. Even into her nineties, she stayed closely connected with family through frequent text messages, always interested in what everyone was doing and eager to celebrate their joys.

Married in April 1950 at the age of twenty-one, Allan and Verna built a remarkable life together centered on faith, family, and service. Their marriage of nearly seventy-five years was a beautiful example of devotion, partnership, and enduring love.

Their faith was the foundation of their lives. They were active members of both the Pomona and Placerville Seventh-day Adventist churches. In Pomona, Allan served as Pathfinder leader, school board president, church treasurer, and choir member. Verna faithfully served for many years as church secretary. Her casseroles were always a hit at the after-church potlucks. After moving to Placerville, Allan taught Sabbath School and served as assistant church treasurer, while Verna volunteered in the church library and was always willing to help wherever she was needed.

They loved traveling, camping, and hiking together, but no place held their hearts quite like Yosemite National Park. Allan first visited Yosemite as a young boy. They returned there for their honeymoon, shared countless family vacations on its trails over the years, and celebrated many of life's happiest memories beneath its granite cliffs—including Verna's 80th birthday with family at the Ahwahnee Hotel.

They cherished their family above all else and remained actively involved in the lives of their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren until the very end.

They are survived by their son, Douglas Severance and his wife Marilyn (Kennedy) Severance; daughter, Diane (Severance) Clark, and her husband Edgar Clark; grandchildren Jonathan Clark (spouse: Jennifer Lodge Clark), Emily Clark, Ashley Crawford (spouse: Eric Crawford), and Devyn Severance (spouse: Homam Ibrahim); and great-grandchildren Levi, Adam, Noah, Alexis, Everett, and Kaia.

Their greatest legacy is the family they cherished, the example of unwavering faith they lived, and the kindness they shared with everyone they met.

A memorial service celebrating the lives of Allan and Verna Severance will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at the Placerville Seventh-day Adventist Church. Family and friends are warmly invited to remain afterward for refreshments, fellowship, and the opportunity to continue sharing memories together.