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Velma Mae Routh | Visitation:
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
3:00 PM until 7:00 PM
Kuhn Funeral Home
140 NW 2nd St.
Earlham, IA 50072
Visitation:
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
5:00 PM until 7:00 PM
family to greet friends
Service:
Thursday, February 5, 2009
10:30 AM
First Presbyterian Church
Earlham, IA 50072
Special Services:
Burial in the Earlham Cemetery
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| | | Velma Mae Routh
In celebrating a long rich life of caring and giving to all others who touched her world, we acknowledge her work as a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, community activist, and business woman. She energetically organized a donation project to take toys, gifts, item of all kinds to Woodward State Hospital for 50 years until her health no longer allowed it. Ruth Ann, her first born daughter, had lived there for a time until her death at the age of 5. She was always working tirelessly for extra income in a moderate family home. She did childcare and worked for three veterinary doctors doing everything including her office responsibilities. She truly loved all animals.
Grandma Routh bought a variety store and called it “Odds and Ends.” It was successful in two different locations. She was always involved in church functions, sang in choirs, did mission work and encouraged others to be all they could be. Velma constantly invited strangers home for a hot meal on holidays. These guests soon became part of the family.
Velma was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and served as a leader more times than she could remember. All those poppy days, dinners prepared for others and chickens dressed were a part of her memories of the Legion.
Right after high school she kept house and was a nanny. She later worked for Les Goeldner at the Earlham Echo and for Dean’s Studio Film Processors in Des Moines. She assisted the caretaker at Spring Brook State Park, cooked at the nursing home in Earlham, was a typist at Preferred Risk Insurance Company, and did home care in Earlham. She undertook many tasks at the café at Living History Farms and spent many years working tirelessly at the café in Earlham.
Velma was married to the love of her life Amor Routh on December 14th 1942 in Lorimor, IA. Amor was in the United States Army which took the newly weds to San Antonio, TX where they lived and had their first child. When they moved back to Iowa in 1946 they rented a chicken coop in Des Moines that Velma painted to make it feel like a home. The young family stayed there until it began to thaw in the spring at which time Amor’s folks helped them put the down payment on their first and only home. Velma and Amor were married for nearly 44 years until his passing September 10, 1986. Over the long years of marriage they had four children, raised three, buried one, and endured any challenges that came their way. After Amor’s death she transitioned into a new way of life remaining strong for her family. This strength was a real testament to the independent woman she was before her marriage. She raised her family in a home that even today has its water pipes freeze up on cold winter nights! She had no indoor bathroom until 1956. Until 1980 it had only an oil burning stove in the living room for heat. For years she slept on a rollaway in the dining room because she gave her kids the only two bedrooms in the house. Velma was proud of her home no matter what went wrong with it. To her the house was a representation of the family she raised inside of it.
She loved her pictures, family history, music, and was an avid fan of watching ice skating on TV. She never missed an episode of “As the World Turns” except when her grandson appeared on the opposite network on “One Life to Live.” (She wasn’t really happy about missing her soap, but she did it for her grandson!). She was always proud of all her “Grands” trying to never miss a recital, concert, or event that they were in. She always had a kind word and a lipstick covered kiss for those she loved.
She was always there supporting Amor, the kids and grandkids with encouragement. Her love and understanding allowed them to be individuals and to find themselves, although sometimes it wasn’t what she had hoped for. Velma’s legacy will remain forever in the hearts and actions of her family and friends. She will be forever missed and always remembered.
In Memory Of
Velma Mae Routh
Born February 1, 1919 - Redfield, Iowa
Died February 2, 2009 - Des Moines, Iowa
FUNERAL SERVICE
10:30 AM Thursday February 5, 2009
First Presbyterian Church
Earlham, Iowa
OFFICIATING
Pastor Robert Waldron
Rev. Kiboko Kiboko
PIANIST - Debbie Jones
SOLOIST - Katie Routh
“On Eagles Wings”
“Amazing Grace”
SPECIAL MUSIC - Sara Routh Cliff
“Sittin On My Window”
PALLBEARERS
Jarrod Routh Theresa Chapman
Kateri Routh Brianna Routh
Kevin Fisher Annie Joy Fisher
Rhett Routh Sara Cliff
Brandon Routh Carolyn Routh
INTERMENT
Earlham Cemetery
Earlham, Iowa
KUHN FUNERAL HOMES
Dexter Redfield Earlham
www.kuhnfuneralhomes.com
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