Vada Lorraine King Gilroy, daughter of Jim King and Mary Sanders King, was born June 1, 1922 in Rippey, Iowa and died July 4, 2005 at the Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson at the age of 83.
Vada grew up in Rippey where she attended school and graduated with the class of 1940. Vada worked for a time at Sabas Restaurant in Jefferson. On February 24, 2041 she was united in marriage to William George Gilroy, Jr. They made their home in Jefferson until moving to Rippey in 1944. Vada and Bill were the parents of three children: Larry, Bob and Barb. Vada stayed busy as an Avon Representative in the Rippey area. In 1970, Vada went to work as a dispatcher in the Greene County Sheriff’s Department, returning to Jefferson to make her home in 1971. She retired from the sheriff’s department in 1988. Vada most enjoyed spending time with her family and all of their activities. She also loved to read and cook, as well as being a sports fan. She was a member of the Rippey United Methodist Church, the Rebekah Lodge and the Order of the Eastern Star.
Vada was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Bill in 1967; and her brother Howard King. She is survived by her sons Larry Gilroy and his wife Janet of Casa Grande, Arizona and Bob Gilroy and his wife Lori of Perry; her daughter: Barb Reese and her husband Kage of Ft. Worth, Texas; four grandchildren: Amy Price and her husband Jason of Ogden, Billy Reese of Omaha, Nebraska, Troy Gilroy and his wife Amy of Des Moines and Tommy Reese of Ft. Worth, Texas: four great-grandchildren: Chelsea and Blake Price of Ogden and Riley and Kolby Gilroy of Des Moines; one brother: Carl King of Rippey; one sister: Wanda Kinney of Perry; brother-in-law: Merle Gilroy and his wife Juanita of Jefferson; other relatives and a host of friends.
Hastings Funeral Home in Perry was in charge of arrangements and memorials to the Rippey United Methodist Church may be left at the funeral home.
Words of comfort at the funeral service Friday, July 8 were by Pastor Deb Parkison and the Rev. Clare DeBoef, Rippey United Methodist Church, Rippey, Iowa. Music was by organist Elaine Holz and soloist Brenda Roberts. Hymns were “How Great Thou Art” and “Amazing Grace”.
Honorary casket bearers were Larry Burkett, LaVere Derry, Myron Rinker and George Millard. Casket bearers were Amy Price, Billy Reese, Troy Gilroy, Tommy Reese, Jason Price and Ken Denger.
Internment was at the Rippey Cemetery in Rippey, Iowa.