Obituary for Veronica Lincoln

Veronica Lincoln

(January 15, 1970 – February 14, 2016)

Veronica Susan Lincoln was born January 15, 1970 in Salem, IN to Irene Graham and later adopted by Tom and Virginia Whitaker Sullivan.

Veronica and her siblings, Angie and Chris had a challenging childhood and lived in various locations with their mother. When Veronica was about 11, she and Angie were placed in foster care in Oklahoma, and Chris was returned to Indiana to live with family members. When she was 12 and Angie was 10, they were lucky enough to be adopted by Tom and Virginia Sullivan of Ponca City, who already had two sons (Ed, age 11, and John, age 9). There was never a dull moment after that!

She and Charlie Lincoln were married on November 3, 1990. They were blessed with two children, Cameron Anthony Lincoln and Chelsea Nicole Lincoln Rennie. Their blessings continued with three beautiful grandchildren — three perfect, brilliant, athletic, articulate grandchildren. Although the marriage ended in divorce, the friendship between the Lincoln/Sullivan families remained. Veronica had health problems all her life, but they became much more serious when Veronica was in high school. She lost the function in both kidneys. She and her family attended kidney camp and became part of a special group of parents and kids with similar challenges. Angie (14 at the time) donated one of hers. When that kidney failed three years later, Veronica received a kidney from her birth mother. That second kidney transplant enabled her to have the children she cherished and to live an almost normal life for about 10 years. During that time, she worked, went to college (graduated from Northern Oklahoma College and attended Oklahoma State University and University of Central Oklahoma with a major in Forensic Science), and took care of her family. She and her family became members of First Lutheran Church when the children were very young, and she attended whenever she could.

Health problems continued to plague her, however, and 19 years of dialysis and surgeries and procedures worked against her to wear out her body. Ferociously independent, she eventually lost her ability to work and to take care of herself. Even so, she remained an inspiration to those who knew her — a symbol of faith and courage. Throughout it all, she loved her God, her family, and her friends.

Her dream was to be an organ donor, but she never thought any part of her body would be accepted. She would be elated to know that she was able to donate her corneas, giving some lucky person the gift of sight.

Veronica is survived by her children, Cameron Lincoln and Josh Smith (Ponca City), Chelsea Rennie and Dillon Rennie (Ponca City); Grandchildren — Kellan, Jocelyn, and Jensen ; Parents — Tom and Virginia Sullivan (Maysville, AR); Sister: Angela Hawkins, Marysville, OH; Brother: Ed and Brandi Sullivan; Brother: Chris and Sabrina Bowman, Muncie, IN; Grandmother: Frances Whitaker (Bartlesville, OK).

Preceded in death by her Birth Mother: Irene Graham; Brother: John Sullivan (Maysville, AR);

Grandparents: Kenneth Whitaker (Ponca City), Ed and ElmaDean Sullivan (Jay, Oklahoma)

Source: Trout Funeral Home