SCRANTON, Kan. – Velma Louise Wells, 81, of Scranton, Kan., passed away Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, at University of Kansas Health System St. Francis, Topeka, Kan. She was born Aug. 28, 1940, in Bunker Hill, Kan., the daughter of Marvin F. Phillips and Ruth G. (Willson) Phillips.
She graduated from Topeka High with the class of 1958, and then from St. Johns School of Beauty, Topeka, in 1959.
On Jan. 8, 1961, Velma was united in marriage to her love of her life, R. Larry Wells, in Miami, Okla. They shared 41 years of marriage until the death of R. Larry in 2002.
Velma was a lifelong beautician. She worked out of her home or went to her customers’ homes from 1959 until July of 2021. She loved her job and was always grateful that it allowed her to work and still be home to run the family operations every day.
Velma was a member of the Carbondale Church of Christian Fellowship, Carbondale, Kan. She was formerly a member of the Scranton United Methodist Church until it closed. During her years at the Methodist church she was active in the United Methodist Women and the Scranton United Methodist Choir. She also taught youth Sunday school at both churches and was currently operating Thank God It’s Wednesday youth group, which turned into Saturday Bible Church Group, out of her home.
Velma was a Godly woman. She ministered her entire life to everyone she met. She truly lived her life for Jesus and was a student of the Bible her entire life. Proof of that is all the markings and inserts and how worn her personal Bible is. She had a talent for ministering to the youth of the community and took great pride and joy in now introducing second generations of many of her former youth members to her Savior Jesus Christ.
Velma was also an amazing cook – everyone in the community knew it was an honor to receive one of Velma’s pies or her cookies. She was a devoted mother and grandmother. Because she worked from home she was also always watching and helping raise her family. She loved family dinners and had several tables over the years as her family grew and grew. She was loved and will be missed but she always left you with a simple, “I love you more” – something her loved ones will never forget.
She was preceded in death by her husband, R. Larry Wells; her parents; sister, Rose Bramlett; grandson, Nathaniel David Rajewski; granddaughter, Kaitlyn Dyann Streeter; great grandson, Elyjah Wayne Streeter; and great granddaughter, Syenna Catherine Streeter.
Velma is survived by four children, Tammy Lylene Streeter and her husband, Jerry, Topeka, Tawny Lynn Barton and her husband, R. Allen., Carbondale, Thomas Larry Wells and his wife, Jennifer, Allen, Kan., and Trena Leann Simpson and her husband, Carl R., Topeka; sister, Jo Ann Boyd and her husband, Bob, Lee’s Summit, Mo.; brother, Marvin Philips and his wife, Beth, Henderson, Nev.; and 12 grandchildren, six step-grandchildren, and 30 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb, 26, at the Carbondale Church of Christian Fellowship, Carbondale. Interment will follow at Scranton Cemetery, Scranton.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Carbondale Church of Christian Fellowship Youth Program, 430 Commercial St., Carbondale, KS 66414. Condolences can be left at www.lamb-roberts.com.
