Vera Martha Vallans

Vera Martha Vallans
February 8, 1919-February 26, 2014
Resident of Millbrae
Vera Vallans passed away peacefully February 26, 2014 at the age of 95. Vera was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois to George and Martha (DeLaubell) Engblom.
She began teaching dancing and exercise classes in her early teens. She worked her way through Northwestern University in Chicago by teaching ballroom dancing. During that time she met Harold (Val) Vallans, who was serving in the Army, and married in 1943. After Val was discharged from the Army in 1945, they moved to his hometown of San Francisco. Vera worked as a researcher for the Encyclopedia Britannica for a few years and decided to open the Vera Vallans School of Dance when they moved to Millbrae. She taught tap and ballet to many of the children in Millbrae and both she and Val taught ballroom dancing in the evenings. They made lifelong friendships and belonged to many dance groups.
To have more time with her family, she went back to college to get her teaching credential. She taught at LaHonda and then Parkside School in San Bruno for many years. She was an avid reader, golfer, bridge and pinochle player.
After Val and Vera retired, they became tour directors on a number of Delta Line cruises around South America and Europe. After Val passed away in 1991, Vera in her 70's and 80's taught exercise classes for seniors throughout the Bay Area and enjoyed teaching at the Millbrae Recreation Center where she retired at age 90. Everything she had done in her life, she did with enthusiasm, love and enjoyment. She loved and was proud of her children and grandchildren and she will be missed.
Her husband, Harold Vallans and her son, William Vallans, preceded her in death. Vera is survived by her three children, Pamela Vallans and Peter Vallans (wife Tana) both of Bend, OR and Steven Vallans (wife Rita) of Millbrae, CA along with her five grandchildren, Ryon, Seth, Levi, Amanda and Kyle.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 15, 2014 at the New Vision United Methodist Church, 450 Chadbourne Ave. in Millbrae.
Chapel of the Highlands, Millbrae
(650)588-5116
www.chapelofthehighlands.com