Velma Ruth (Beach) Cool passed away on Friday, December 29, 2017 at Redbud Village in Plainville, Kansas at the age of 96. She was born on January 17, 1921 in Hiawatha, Kansas to the late Oliver C. and Ruby L. (Housh) Cool. She grew up in Hiawatha and graduated from Hiawatha High School with the Class of 1939. On October 13, 1940 she was united in marriage to Paul Leander “Brick” Cool in Hiawatha. They were blessed with three children, William, James, and Bette.
Velma began working in the drugstore in Hiawatha as a young woman. One day a young man came in to purchase a package of gum. Six weeks later they were married and “the rest was history” as they say. Over her lifetime, Velma worked for many years as a bookkeeper for several Chevrolet dealerships including Bemis, Button, and Nelson all of Plainville, and Lyda, Schlagek, Gewecke, and Russ Harvey all of Russell, Kansas. She went on to work for thirteen more years with H&R Block before retiring. A hard working woman, but always a lady, she had one weekly requirement her entire life: to get her hair done properly. She loved raising huge gardens and canning, crocheting, crafting with her many craft club friends, going for walks, and even playing volleyball into her 70’s. She was a member of the First Congregational Church in Russell, where she also worked as the financial secretary, and always sang in the choir; a member of the United Methodist Church in Plainville, The Red Hat Society, Russell Regional Hospital Auxiliary, and a Lifetime Member of Order of the Eastern Star.
Velma is survived by her daughter Bette Stamper and husband Kent of Plainville; daughters-in-law Bonnie Haugen Cool of Edina, MN, and Judy Legleiter Cool of Houston, TX; brother Darrell Beach and wife Janie of Seward, NE; grandchildren Marcie Diaz and husband Tony of Plainville, Heather Stamper-Voss of Plainville, Kevin Stamper of Wichita, Michelle Seloover of Houston, TX, Stephanie Dunshie and husband Bob of Houston, TX, William “Bill” Cool and wife Kristina of Omaha, NE, Randall Cool and Sabrina of Omaha, NE, Patrick Cool and wife Sonja of Edina, MN, and Katharine Cool of Edina, MN; and great-grandchildren Amanda Diaz, Kent Diaz, Cynthia Bressler, Luke Voss, Chloe Stamper, Ella Waggoner, Sam Waggoner, Jamie Seloover, Jacob Dunshie, Malyssa Cool, Will Cool and wife Courtney, Stephanie Cool, Abby Cool, R.J. Cool, and Crystal Cool.
She was preceded in death by parents Oliver and Ruby Beach; husband Paul “Brick” Cool; sons James Cool and William Cool; brothers Raymond Beach, Albert Beach, and Robert Beach; sister Thelma Beach; grandsons Anthony Cool, Donald Cool, and Matthew Stamper; and great-granddaughters Rachel Cool and Jessica Diaz.
The colors of the Eastern Star remind us to raise our eyes to the blue of heaven, to warm our hearts with the warmth of the yellow sun, to know that our souls will dwell in the white of purity and peace, that we shall live for all eternity as the evergreen symbolizes, and to live our daily lives with the fervent love and devotion symbolized by red. Velma lived her life in humble service, faith, and love to her Lord, her family, her sisters, and friends. Her shadow hour has fallen and she has been found worthy and ready to answer the call, “Come, thou good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of thy Lord.”
Funeral Services will be held at 1:30pm at Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home in Plainville. Burial will follow at the Plainville City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:00am – 1:30pm on Tuesday at the funeral home.