C. H. and Caroline Yoe Foundation
HALL OF HONOR 2005
Velda Walker Gunning
Cameron High School Class of 1921
Velda’s bequests followed the pattern of her whole life:
To be the best she could be—loyal, loving, spiritual,
judicious, and independent. She left behind a multi-million
dollar estate to be shared in part by friends, family, and
an El Paso church, but mainly with All Saints Episcopal and
First Baptist churches of Cameron. The gifts were unexpected
as Velda, a native of Cameron, had lived in El Paso 65 years.
She grew up here a member of the old, respected Todd family
of Milam County. Her two university degrees were from Baylor
University and UT-Austin. She taught Latin three years at
C. H. Yoe High School in 1920s. She inherited seed money of
her later bequests in 1968 on death of her husband Thomas
C. Gunning, perhaps El Paso’s most successful businessman
at the time. Subsequent years of her widowhood proved the
depths of her management skill and character. A few may ask
Can a person who inherited the basis of property be considered
an achiever? The answer is certain—she proved conclusively
who she was by the wise choices she made over the 30 years
alone as a widow. Velda succeeded in the grand manner.
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