Vavra, Betty Ann 1930-2009

VAVRA, KUCERA, FRAHM, BELL, HOPWOOD, LOVE, SHAFLAND

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 2/21/2011 at 10:00:37

The Grinnell Herald-Register; Oct. 19, 2009

BETTY VAVRA

Betty Vavra, 79, of Montezuma died at her home on Oct. 17, 2009. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at the Holland-Coble Funeral Home in Montezuma with the service following at 1 p.m. with Chaplain Susan Sanning officiating. Interment will be held in Oak Hill Cemetery in Tama. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Grinnell Regional Hospice. Friends may send condolences or sign the online guest book at www.hollandcoblefuneralhome.com . Holland-Coble Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Betty Ann Vavra, daughter of Harry J. and Hildred A. Kucera Frahm, was born on Sept. 9, 1930, in Tama and graduated from Tama High School in 1948. On Jan. 26, 1951, she married Vernon 'Jake' Vavra at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Malcom. Betty stayed at home raising the couple's six children until they bought the New Sharon Star, where she served as the editor for ten years. She then received her Bachelor's Degree in Education from William Penn University in 1980. She taught ten years in the Farmington School System in Farmington, Mo.

Betty had a passion for music and singing, and other favorite pastimes included golfing with her husband and family and large family gatherings where she enjoyed cooking and spending time with her family.

She is survived by her six children, Michael Vavra of Houston, Texas; Charles Vavra of Northwood, Iowa; Randall Vavra of Australia; James Vavra of Eddyville; Lisa Bell of Indialantic, Fla.; and Christine Hopwood of Montezuma. Also surviving are 19 grandchildren; four great grandchildren; two sisters, Doris Love of Austin, Texas, and Jane Shafland of Red Wing, Minn., and several nieces, nephews and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her paretns and her husband.