Viola Renfro

Viola M. Renfro, 95, of Atlantic, Iowa, passed away Saturday, November 22, 2008, at the Heritage House in Atlantic.

Viola Marie Wolfkill was born February 1, 1913, in Des Moines, Iowa, the daughter of Albert Leroy and Mary Amanda (Pross) Wolfkill. She grew up in Des Moines and attended school there. Viola was baptized on June 22, 1913, at the Zion Lutheran Church in Atlantic and confirmed on April 10, 1927, at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Des Moines, Iowa.

On June 13, 1931, she married Lee C. Renfro in Valley Junction, Iowa. They lived in Des Moines throughout their marriage where Viola worked for many years in the mail order department for Younkers. They loved to accompany each other in their favorite pastimes of camping, fishing and ice skating. Lee passed away August 4, 1981, and then, in 1982, Viola made the decision to relocate to Atlantic.

She joined Zion Lutheran Church where she was a member of the Ladies Circle. She enjoyed doing the quilt tying and the Golden Years group at church. Viola also enjoyed walking in the annual Relay for Life. She loved spending time with her family, whether it was birthday or holiday parties, the activities her nieces and nephews were involved in, or just having coffee with her sister and nieces.

Viola is survived by her nieces, Peggy Grogan and her husband, Tom of Des Moines, Iowa, Lavone Weirich and her husband, Ron of Lewis, Iowa, Bea Holmes of Pocahontas, Iowa, Shirley Johnson of Altoona, Iowa, Lois Figgins and her husband, Ed of Atlantic, Iowa, and Loretta Olsen and her husband, Larry of Atlantic, Iowa; her nephews, Jack Wolfkill of Des Moines, Iowa, Lloyd Holmes and his wife, Jeanette of Battle Creek, Iowa, Leroy Holmes and his wife, Roberta of Clive, Iowa, and Lyle Holmes and his wife, Kim of Ida Grove, Iowa; and several great nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Mary Wolkfill; her husband, Lee; her father-in-law, Barney Renfo; her brother and sister-in-law, Harold and Helen Wolkfill; her sister and brother-in-law, Gertrude and Leonard Holmes; her nephews, Leonard Holmes, Jr. and Larry Holmes; her niece, Judy Wolfkill; her great-nephew, David Figgins; her great-great-niece, Kaeli Jo Holmes and her great-great-nephew, Joseph Osborn.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, November 25, 2008, at Zion Lutheran Church in Atlantic with the Reverend Ken Davidson officiating.

Burial will be at 3:00 p.m., Tuesday in the Laurel Hill Cemetery in Des Moines, Iowa.

A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Memorials may be made to Zion Lutheran Church in Atlantic.

Condolences may be left at www.hockenberryfamilycare.com.

Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic, Iowa, is in charge of the arrangements.