Vern was born in Buffalo New York on October 17, 1942. He graduated from Hutchinson Central Technical High School in 1960 and earned a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from General Motors Institute (now Kettering University) in 1966. Sensing God's call to vocational ministry, he enrolled at Buffalo Bible Institute (now the Buffalo Campus of Houghton College) graduating with a diploma in English Bible in 1969. During this time, he married Lorrie, his wife of 41 years. Lorrie also attended Houghton-Buffalo. While a student at Houghton, Vern served as the youth director at Pine Hill Community Church and on the staff of Youthtime Evangelism Fellowship. After graduation, Vern and Lorrie served the Tyrone Alliance Church, Tyrone PA (1969-1973,) People’s Alliance Church in New Castle PA (1973-1976) and Bakerstown Alliance Church (1977-1985.) In 1985, Vern began his service at the Lighthouse Foundation, where he continues to work part-time. From June 2006 until December 31, 2008, Vern also served as the pastor of Sherrett and Wattersonville United Methodist churches.

Lorrie worked from 1982-1988 as a teachers aide at the former Washington Elementary School. From 1988-2001 she worked as a secretary at Mars Area Middle School. In Sept. 2001, sensing the Lord’s calling she began work as the Mars Alliance Church secretary and served there until December 31, 2008.

Vern and Lorrie have two sons, Philip, a robotics engineer at McKesson Automated Health Systems, and Daniel, the current Executive Director of the Lighthouse Foundation and a foster-daughter, Julie Roberts, a graduate student at Carlow College.