Vanita McCurnin

Vanita M. (Brain, Albrecht) McCurnin. 77, formerly of Gowrie and Farnhamville, passed away Monday March 12, 2024, at AdventHealth in Tampa Florida.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday March 26, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Farnhamville, with Pastor Aaron Zimmerman officiating. Graveside services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 26, at Jefferson Municipal Cemetery with military rites by American Legion Post #510 Farnhamville.

Friends may call after 10 a.m. Tuesday March 26, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Farnhamville. Palmer Funeral Home, Gowrie, is serving the family.

Vanita Marie Albrecht-McCurnin was born on Aug. 14, 1946, in Fort Dodge, Iowa. First child of Merlin and Theresa Brain, Vanita was baptized and confirmed in the faith at Christ Lutheran Church in Churdan. She attended grade school at Cedar Valley in Farnhamville and graduated from Paton-Church High School in 1964.

On her 18th birthday, Vanita departed Iowa for training at Naval Station Great Lakes in northeastern Illinois. From 1964 to 1967 she served as a medic at St. Albans Naval Hospital in Queens, New York. There she met William George Albrecht, whom she married on Jan. 28, 1967. After her husband’s untimely death in 1968 Vanita earned her registered nurse degree from Iowa Central Community College. For 34 years she practiced nursing in Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Virginia. She served with the Oklahoma National Guard as a newly commissioned second lieutenant during the 1980 “Cuban Crisis” and the U.S. Army Reserve Nurse Corps, assigned to the Pentagon, from 1981 to 1983. On Aug. 23, 1980, she married Patrick Eugene McCurnin in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The couple resided and retired in Virginia before moving to Ocala, Florida, in 2005.

An aviation enthusiast, Vanita obtained a private pilot license prior to her commercial pilot license in 1975. This passion for flying extended to travel generally when visiting locations in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Middle East with her children and husband. Her accompaniment underscores the fact that, among all interests and accomplishments, faith and family were a priority throughout Vanita’s life. Service to the Lord was paramount. Every moment with “her kids” was precious.

Left to cherish her memory is husband Patrick; sons Dr. William George Albrecht, Jr. (Dawn) of West End, North Carolina, Robert William Albrecht (Autumn) and grandson Christian of Ocoee, Florida; Brother Maurice Brain of Farnhamville; sister Vanessa King (Ronald) of Gowrie, Iowa; nephews Rawley King (Amy) and Ronley (Claire) of Waukee, Iowa and Gowrie, respectively; nieces Shelly Hepp of Lohrville, Iowa, Arkay Brown (David) of Ankeny, Iowa and their families. 

A memorial service was held on March 19,, in her home church at The Villages where she was an active member. In lieu of flowers, Vanita requested memorials be sent (made out) to Open Bible, 4671 Bellwether Lane, Oxford, FL 34484.