Velma Alverta Whitaker

Velma Alverta Whitaker of rural Dunlap died on Tuesday, March 26, 2019 at the Holiday Resort Care Center, Emporia.  She was 95.

Velma was born on April 19, 1923 in Council Grove, Kansas the daughter of Alburn Burney and Ida Florence Rose Leeds.  She married Robert Clinton Whitaker on March 3, 1946 at the Bushong United Methodist Church. They celebrated their 67 ^th .  Wedding anniversary the day before he passed away March 4, 2013.

Surviving family members include: son, Rodney (Patty) Whitaker of Council Grove; daughters, Lucricia (Dale Hase) Banks of Americus, Katrina (Sid) Morgan of Americus; seven grandchildren, and twenty-one great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husband, five brothers, two sisters, and one great-granddaughter Jennifer Lauren Luther and son-in-law Bruce Banks.

Velma was very active in all aspects of farm life.  She joined the Bushong Methodist Church and always enjoyed working in the church as pianist and Children’s Sunday School teacher.  She was a member of the WSCSD and later the UMW and served several years as president and treasurer.  She was a District officer for 8 years and a member of the Home Makers Social Club.

Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m., Saturday, March 30, 2019 at the Americus United Methodist Church, Americus with burial following the service at the Dunlap Cemetery.  Visitation will be Friday night from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home.  Memorial contributions to the Americus United Methodist Church or Hand in Hand Hospice can be sent in care of the funeral home.