Arla Vivian Schmalz of Delta died Tuesday, March 27, 2012, at Delta County Memorial Hospital. She was 92.
Mrs. Schmalz was born July 27, 1919, on the family homestead in Peach Valley, to Ray and Lela (Ensign) Lashley. She lived in Missouri for a short time but grew up in the Uncompahgre Valley. She graduated with honors from Olathe High School in 1937.
She married Joe Schmalz on Sept. 29, 1937, in Delta. He died Aug. 1, 1984.
Mrs. Schmalz was a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church in Delta. She was a housewife and collected antiques, dolls and stamps. She enjoyed sewing, cooking, canning, baking, gardening and birds. She liked to milk her cows surrounded by cats and farm dogs. She enjoyed music, especially country-western played by her son and grandson, family get-togethers, scrapbooking and writing letters and poems.
She is survived by two sons and their wives, Ray and Nikki Schmalz, and Chad and Cindy Schmalz, all of Olathe; five daughters, Marlene Abbott of Worland, Wyo., Joan Kessler of Montrose, Rebecca Borg and her husband John of La Mesa, Calif., Ramona Wall and her husband Dave of Cedaredge, and Julie Fitzgerald of Flagstaff, Ariz.; a daughter-in-law, Linda Schmalz of Olathe; three sisters, Edra Moore of Lancaster, Calif., Bonnie Petrafeso of Lakewood, and Marilyn Cox of Montrose; two sisters-in-law, Anne Schmalz of Montrose, and Joyce Schmalz of Delta; 20 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Mrs. Schmalz was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Schmalz; an infant son, Matthew; her son, Art Schmalz; three sisters, Helen Burch, Hazel Hare and Geraldine Ray; and two sons-in-law, Edgar Kessler and Lee Abbott.
A rosary/vigil was recited March 30 at Taylor Funeral Service Chapel in Delta. A funeral mass was held March 31 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Delta, with Father Mike Walker officiating. Burial followed at Olathe Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Colorow Care Center, P.O. Box 710, Olathe, CO 81425.
View the Internet obituary and sign the online guest registry at taylorfuneralservice.com.
Taylor Funeral Service and Crematory handled the arrangements.
blog comments powered by Disqus