Velva Ellen (Hullinger) Owen (2016)
OWEN, HULLINGER, DONOHO, SLY
Posted By: Mary Welty Hart (email)
Date: 12/2/2016 at 19:43:40
Des Moines Register
Des Moines, Iowa
Friday, December 02, 2016VELVA OWEN, West Des Moines
On November 17, 2016 Velva Ellen Owen passed peacefully into the welcoming arms of her Savior, Jesus Christ.
A celebration of her life will be held at the West Des Moines United Methodist Church at 2 p.m., on Saturday, December 3, 2016 with burial at Resthaven Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 1 p.m. until service time Saturday at the church.
Velva was born February 7, 1926 to Lester and Clara Hullinger in rural Decatur County, IA. She was raised on a farm near Leon, IA, the middle child of five. She graduated from Leon High and went on to attain her BA degree in Education at Drake University. Later she completed her MA degree at Drake in Elementary Guidance and Counseling.
She began her teaching career in Winterset, IA, where she met Melvin Owen, also a teacher. They married in 1949 and moved to WDM, Iowa in 1952. She taught school at Sacred Heart Elementary. She took a subsequent career path as a secretary for IPERS at the state capital and went on to work in the governor's support staff.
Velva's passion for community service encompassed such organizations as, Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Camp Fire Girls, Little League Auxiliary, WDM Women's Club, Lioness Club and numerous volunteer positions at her church, WDM United Methodist.
Faith, family, and friends were her highest priorities. Vel enjoyed reading, sewing, rose gardening, Bridge and Scrabble. She and Mel enjoyed travel and spent twelve years wintering in Sun City, Arizona.
Velva is survived by her daughter, LuAnne (Daniel) Donoho of Litchfield Park, AZ; son, Brent (Anne) Owen of Des Moines; proud grandmother to four grandchildren, Brent and Kevin Donoho, Jason (Ashley) Owen and Matthew (Carla) Owen; and her sister, Violet Sly of Dakota Dunes, SD. She was preceded in death by her husband Melvin of 53 years; parents, Lester and Clara Hullinger; and brothers, Mervel, Russell and Gary Hullinger.
Memorial contributions may be made to Blank Children's Hospital or the WDM United Methodist Church.
McLaren's Chapel at Resthaven Cemetery
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