VALA, Theodora Jean (nee Lundgren) "Teddi" 1943-2008

VALA, LUNDGREN

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 12/15/2008 at 14:38:41

Teddi Vala, of 702 Bradford St., Marble Rock, Floyd county, Iowa, died onSunday, November 16, 2008, at her home in Marble Rock. No services areplanned, and the cremation has already taken place.

Born Theodora Jean Lundgren, to Carl and Else Lundgren, on September 23, 1943, in Elizabeth, Union County, New Jersey. She began her career as a dancer on Broadway and performed in West Side Story, Destry Rides Again, Red Head and others before graduating from Abraham Clark High School, Roselle, New Jersey in 1961.

She lived and worked in New Jersey as an executive secretary for Wilcolator and then at "The Money Store" until 1971, when she suffered injuries from a traffic accident in Florida while visiting her parents. She remained in Florida, and after a long recuperation continued as an executive secretary. She then became involved with community theater in the area, where she met her husband Michael, who was from Rockford, Iowa.

They were married July 1, 1977 in Sarasota, Florida, and that fall moved to Hawaii, where she continued her executive secretarial skills with the NAPA distribution center while her husband worked for Hawaiian Printing, a division of Vanier Graphics.

Michael and Teddi moved to San Antonio, Texas in 1982, accepting a transfer when Vanier Graphics opened a new plant at San Antonio. While in Hawaii the couple developed a wood crafting business (exotic hardwood boxes) and in Texas Teddi opened a gift shop called "Rare Discovery," selling her husband's woodcrafts, supplemented with appropriate and unique hand crafted art. Within the year Michael resigned from Vanier and the couple went full time in the gift and craft business, traveling to art shows, producing and selling a succession of crafts.

Around 1986 Teddi developed her own craft, which consisted of exquisite and unique hair pieces, earrings and broaches — made from natural feathers from wild and exotic birds. Her work was featured in the November 1990 issue Sunshine Artist, a national publication. And she also became the Texas (and later Iowa) reporter for that magazine. Many artists and craftsmen still thank her for her vital information and the wit and charm in her column.

The couple moved to Marble Rock in 1988, continuing in their travels coast to coast, transitioning from feather art to hardwood kaleidoscopes. Teddi not only helped with the production of the scopes, but also expertly handled the enormous task of almost daily applying and booking shows, the bookkeeping and actual sales at the shows. During this time the couple participated in some of the finest shows in at least 33 states. In 1996, in an effort to reduce the degree and distance of travel, Teddi developed a unique and highly successful soy candle, using natural fragrance and essential oils.

Failing health precluded continuing with the candle production, traveling, and selling at shows after 2002 and instead some may remember Teddi at local auctions, enthusiastically bidding on almost anything, and particularly collectible glassware. She ran a lively and successful business on Ebay.

Michael continued producing kaleidoscopes on a limited basis and also repaired and restored antique and collectible cuckoo clocks. When no longer able to get to the auctions, she continued the Ebay business with scopes and clocks.

By 2006 her medical needs made scope and clock production more and more difficult. Instead of giving up, she discovered a whole new area in which to excel. She became a home agent for a California flower company, taking phone sales and customer service over the internet. The computer was her window to the world. In spite of the increasing, enormous physical restrictions in later life, she remained as active, enthusiastic and gregarious as the Broadway show dancer. She leaves literally hundreds of dear friends nationwide -- indeed world wide.

She was preceded in death by her father in August 1982, and by her mother in 2002.

Teddi is survived by three cousins: Gail, Ellen and Joan; and by her husband, Michael.

Funeral arrangements are by Reid's Funeral Chapel, 423 Bradford St., Marble Rock, Iowa.