After a lifetime of travel, Velma Pendleton completed her last journey December 4, 2023, with her daughters by her side talking and remembering all the good times we shared.
Velma started life November 4, 1933, born to Howard and Olive Guinn in Potter, Kansas. She grew up one of seven daughters in rural Kansas and remembered her life in Kansas with great fondness. As a teenager her family moved to St. Joseph, Mo. and then attended Benton High School. During High School she met John Pendleton at a church picnic and was smitten. She later married her marine on April 19, 1952.
During her married life she travelled to Ireland, Greece, France, Spain, Hong Kong, Germany and India. Often remarking to strangers on a plane how far a little poor girl from Kansas had gotten to go in the world much to the embarrassment of her teenage children pretending to be jet setters. She loved to travel but Ireland always held a special place in her Irish heart. On one trip she and her husband met with the Dublineers and they were so taken with each other they travelled together for part of their tour with John and Velma on stage.
Velma and John welcomed five children during their marriage. Their children were a special joy to them only added to by the addition of each grandchild. Velma and her husband attended every kind of sporting event for her children from football to golf and tennis. They wore brave smiles through violin recitals, speeches and theatre plays if one of her children or grandchildren were lucky participants. To Velma they were the only ones on the playing field or the stage and had an ethereal glow around their heads that other children just couldn’t match. No shepherd in a church play ever had a more admiring following. Brother Bob starred one year as the Baby Jesus and mom believed a star was born.
Velma worked as a decorator for Montgomery Ward and for Armour Corporation. She loved to fish and camp travelling all over the Midwest and Canada with the kids in tow. She was at home frying trout by a stream in Canada as she was in her own little kitchen stretching a chicken to meet five children’s appetite and baking homemade apple dumplings from her mothers recipe.
Velma was preceded in death by her parents; Howard and Olive Guinn, brothers; Raymond and Danny Guinn, husband; John Pendleton, sisters; Linda Shoots and Darlene Ellis.
She is survived by sisters; Gloria Morgan, Sharon Karr, Carolyn Guinn and MaryEvelyn Guinn, Children Roxanne (Dave) Williamson, Michael (Sandy) Pendleton, Scott (Linda) Pendleton, Robert (Marlee) Pendleton , Janelle (Dave) Embrey, grandchildren; Amanda (Cody) McCracken, Alexandra Williamson, Dustin Pendleton, Cami (Alex) Pitts, Brian ( Christy) Pendleton, David ( Michelle) Pendleton, Jesse Connor, Bobbi Jo Pendleton , Rebecca (Cody) Gilmore, and Ryan (Jessica) Embrey, great-grandchildren; Vincent Embrey, Joel Embrey, Legend Embrey, Bayler Gilmore, Wren McCracken, Tucker McCracken, Madelyn McCracken and Charlotte McCracken, Aspen Brown, Kaylin Brown, Paydyn Pendleton, Baylor Fry, Teagan Pendleton, Ryker Pendleton.
Funeral service 10:00 AM Friday December 8, 2023 at Heaton-Bowman-Smith & Sidenfaden Chapel. Burial at Cummings Cemetery, Cummings, KS, along aside her husband of over 50 years.T
The family will receive friends 6:00 - 8:00 PM Thursday evening also at our chapel.