James, Velma 1920-2006

JAMES, HULBERT, REVELL, ROMBERG, SPARKS, JOHNSON, TAYLOR

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 12/14/2010 at 16:36:41

The Montezuma Republican

VELMA JAMES, 86

Velma James, 86, of Montezuma, went home to Heaven on Friday, July 7, 2006, at Montezuma Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Her funeral service was held on Monday, July 10, at the Calvary Baptist Church, Grinnell, with Pastor Don Johnston officiating. The organist was Teresa Thompson and the vocalist was Jarold Greene. Burial was at the Little Mount Baptist Cemetery near Montezuma. Smith Funeral Home, Grinnell, was in charge of the arrangements.

Pallbearers were Kenneth James, Brent and Skyler Romberg, Dave Story, Eric Bru and Norman Meyer.

The daughter of Robert and Ethel Hulbert Revell, she was born Feb. 12, 1920, at Iowa Center. She was raised in Grinnell and was a 1939 graduate of Grinnell High School where she also received her teaching certificate. She taught in rural schools in Union Township near Montezuma from 1939 to 1943.

On Dec. 28, 1942, she was married to Warren L. James at Fresno, Calif., where he was stationed in the military prior to going overseas. After World War II, the couple moved to their family farm near Montezuma and farmed there until 1968. They then moved to What Cheer and later moved to Montezuma in 1985. During this time she assisted her husband, who was a Baptist minister in the What Cheer and Montezuma communities.

Velma was an active member of the Baptist Church and taught Sunday school for 45 years. She was a charter member of the Montezuma Garden Club and a charter member and co-founder of the Poweshiek County Historical and Genealogy Society.

Survivors include one son, Lauren James; two grandchildren, Kenneth (and Wendi) James and Kristina (and Brent) Romberg; three great-grandchildren, Destiny and Skyler Romberg and Tesla Sparks, all of Montezuma; and two sisters, Ada Johnson of Montezuma and Ethel Taylor of Port Orange, Fla.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Warren, and one brother, Robert Revell, Jr.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Velma James Memorial Fund.