Velma Raymond's Obituary
Velma Mae Raymond, daughter of William B. and Elma Mae Leeds Stanford, was born November 16, 1920 near Larrabee, Iowa. She departed this life November 16, 2007 in Lebanon, Missouri at the age of 87 years. On November 3, 1939 she was united in marriage to John Willis Raymond. To this union three children were born. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, John, in 1994, by one son, William Russell Raymond, and by three brothers, Earl, Eldon, and Willis Stanford. She is survived by one daughter, Judith and her husband, Ken Vest, Lebanon, Missouri; one son, Donald and his wife, Les Raymond, of Kansas City, Kansas; one brother, Gary Stanford, Renton, Washington; eleven grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild; also a number of nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends. Much of Velma’s early life was spent in Iowa. It was there she spent her childhood as well as where she met and married her “soul mate” for life, John. After his time served in the United States military and a brief time in the lumber business, John was called into the ministry. His first pastorate was at the First Christian Church in Ord, Nebraska. They then were called to Des Moines, Iowa, where they served the West Side Church of Christ and the Ft. Des Moines Church of Christ. A major move took place in 1967 when John was called to the Ozark Bible College where John was to teach for many years. At this time, Velma went back to school at Missouri Southern University and completed her bachelor’s degree. She continued at Pittsburg State University and completed her master’s degree. She taught school for 13 years at Carl Junction before retiring in 1985. Velma and John lived life to the fullest traveling extensively. They participated in archeological digs in Israel and working on mission trips in the Caribbean. They also took several cruises and traveled in Europe on various occasions. Regardless where they traveled, their favorite “get away” place was Crystal Lake in Pelican Rapids, Iowa. To this day, the family loves to visit and spend time where the family through the years spent so many happy vacations. Velma loved to fish and spend time with her family, but she never lost sight of her first priority, which was being a “pastor’s wife”. She lifted up her husband’s love for the Lord and his duties of ministry above everything else. She was a gifted Bible student in her own right and lived her faith daily. Laughter filled their home and as a family they learned to deal with adversity with faithfulness, prayer and laughter. After her husband’s death, she continued to minister to others at Southern Heights Christian Church where she was a member and taught Sunday School and the Home Aloners class. She volunteered at Donnelly Elementary School and ran the gift shop at Hughes Senior Center in Lebanon. She walked and swam at the Cowan Civic Center and was active as long as her health permitted. Even as her health began to fail, she found enjoyment in spending time with her new friends at North Ridge Assisted Living Center in Lebanon. Velma’s life was full of selfless service to her Lord and all those around her. She was a loving faithful wife and mother, a gifted teacher and friend. All that she did, she did as “unto the Lord” and only eternity knows the influence that her life had on pointing others to heaven. She will be wonderfully remembered by all her family and many friends. Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 20, 2007, at Southern Heights Christian Church, Lebanon. Burial will be in Mount Rose Memorial Park Cemetery. Visititation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until service time under the direction of Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Lebanon, Missouri. Memorials to the Southern Heights Building Program may be made through the funeral home. Return to top
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