Vanetta Youngblood

Vanetta Youngblood died Friday, May 13, 2016 at Greene County Medical Center Long Term Care in Jefferson at the age of 91 years.A service of remembrance was held Wed. May 18 at First United Methodist Church in Grand Junction with Pastor Steve Ransom officiating. “On Eagle’s Wings” and “In The Garden” were sung by Larry Dowd, accompanied by pianist, Tom Hinote. Serving as honorary bearers were granddaughters: Heather Smittle, Carolyn Tran, Andrea Walsh, Amy Wicklund, Amber Youngblood, Kathe Jo Johnson and Katie Siders; Penny and Ryan Tiffany and El Carim Club Members. The casket bearers were Jeff Thorpe, Andy Krieger, Mark Cranston, Bill Heaning Jr., Roger Wessling and Larry Miller. Interment was at Junction Township Cemetery, Grand Junction.

Vanetta Grace Glidden Youngblood was born December 30, 1924 on a farm southeast of Rippey in Greene County. She was the daughter of Orrie Guy and Grace Rebecca Thornburgh Glidden. Vanetta started school in Rippey, lived near Perry for a short time before moving to a farm southeast of Grand Junction. She graduated in 1943 from the Grand Junction High School and furthered her education at the American Institute of Business in Des Moines.

During World War II, Vanetta lived in Takoma Park, Maryland and worked for the Navy Department in Washington, D.C. She was united in marriage with William Amos Youngblood on July 28, 1944 in Silver Spring, Maryland. In early 1945, Vanetta moved to Brooklyn, New York where she was employed by the Veterans Administration. She returned to Iowa in October of 1945 and Bill joined her on Christmas Day of the same year after receiving his discharge from the Navy.

The couple made their home in Grand Junction and became parents of a daughter, Kay Ellen and a son, Richard Alan. Vanetta and Bill were employed by Slininger Funeral Home and lived in the Grand Junction funeral home from 1960 until 1977 when they moved into their own home. In 1970, Vanetta started working full time in the funeral home office in Jefferson, retiring in 1990.

Vanetta was a member of the First United Methodist Church, the United Methodist Women and Evening Circle. She had served as treasurer of the church for several years. She belonged to El Carim Club and was a former member of the Greene County Womens Bowling Association and Lakeside Golf Club. She enjoyed bowling on the local, state and national levels.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Bill in 2001; a sister, Helen Ruby; and three brothers: Burr, Egbert and Orlo Glidden. She is survived by her children, Kay (Bob) Smittle of Bella Vista, Ark. and Richard “Dick” (Mary) Youngblood of Boone; seven granddaughters: Heather Smittle and wife Monica De Vast of Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Carolyn (Charles) Tran of Lake Forest, Calif.; Andrea (Bob) Walsh of Fort Dodge; Amy (David) Wicklund of Minneapolis, Minn.; Amber Youngblood and fiancé Albert Westberg of Boone; Kathe Jo (Jason) Johnson of Ponca City, Okla. and Katie (Eric) Siders of Boone. Vanetta is also survived by eight great-grandchildren: Nathan and Morgan Walsh, Landon Youngblood and Audrina Westberg, Lauren Johnson and Reilynn Martin, Liam and Brezlin Siders; other relatives and many friends.

In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the family to be used at their discretion. Online condolences may be left at www.sliningerschroeder.com.