1913
Venda
2007
Venda N. Donahoo
October 16, 1913 — April 28, 2007
Venda Neva James Donahoo was born October 16, 1913 on her family's farm near Asherville in Mitchell County, Kansas. She was the fifth child born to Manly and Lena James, who spent their lives raising wheat on the rolling plains of North Central Kansas. She died April 28, 2007 at the age of 93.
She was raised in an era of no inside running water or electricity, and rode her pony to school. She lived to see a man on the moon, to enjoy jet air travel, and experience the arrival of the 21st century.
On June 14, 1936, she married Robert Reed Donahoo and they went to Topeka, where she worked at Pelletier's Department Store through the Depression.
Bob worked for AT&T, and they were transferred to St. Louis, where daughters Judy and Jan were born. Jean arrived in Springfield, Missouri. Venda raised her girls; she sewed their clothes, drove them to lessons, checked their homework, and ran the PTA.
Bob retired in 1972, and they moved to the Ozarks, but spent winters traveling in their trailer. In 1980, they moved to North Ft. Myers, Florida, where they played golf almost daily for 12 years. When Bob got Parkinson's, they went to Mount Dora, where Venda took care of him for seven years until his death on May 16, 1998.
Venda again became very active. She drove, shopped, and cooked for herself for six years then moved into Grand Court Retirement Center for 2 ½ years. In January, 2007, she moved with Judy and Jean to their new home in Carrollton, Georgia.
For three months she enjoyed visits from her grandchildren and great grandchildren. But, two heart attacks made her life on Earth a struggle, so Venda quietly and willingly joined her beloved Bob in Heaven.
She will be sadly missed but lovingly remembered by all who knew her well and especially by her three daughters, Judy Prout and Jean Miller of Carrollton, and Jan Gibbs and her husband Jim of Pauls Valley, Oklahoma; six grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews and friends.
A memorial service will be at 11:00 AM, Saturday, August 4, 2007 at Elmwood Cemetery in Beloit.
She was raised in an era of no inside running water or electricity, and rode her pony to school. She lived to see a man on the moon, to enjoy jet air travel, and experience the arrival of the 21st century.
On June 14, 1936, she married Robert Reed Donahoo and they went to Topeka, where she worked at Pelletier's Department Store through the Depression.
Bob worked for AT&T, and they were transferred to St. Louis, where daughters Judy and Jan were born. Jean arrived in Springfield, Missouri. Venda raised her girls; she sewed their clothes, drove them to lessons, checked their homework, and ran the PTA.
Bob retired in 1972, and they moved to the Ozarks, but spent winters traveling in their trailer. In 1980, they moved to North Ft. Myers, Florida, where they played golf almost daily for 12 years. When Bob got Parkinson's, they went to Mount Dora, where Venda took care of him for seven years until his death on May 16, 1998.
Venda again became very active. She drove, shopped, and cooked for herself for six years then moved into Grand Court Retirement Center for 2 ½ years. In January, 2007, she moved with Judy and Jean to their new home in Carrollton, Georgia.
For three months she enjoyed visits from her grandchildren and great grandchildren. But, two heart attacks made her life on Earth a struggle, so Venda quietly and willingly joined her beloved Bob in Heaven.
She will be sadly missed but lovingly remembered by all who knew her well and especially by her three daughters, Judy Prout and Jean Miller of Carrollton, and Jan Gibbs and her husband Jim of Pauls Valley, Oklahoma; six grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews and friends.
A memorial service will be at 11:00 AM, Saturday, August 4, 2007 at Elmwood Cemetery in Beloit.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Venda N. Donahoo, please visit our flower store.
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