Edith Viola Koon

Edith Viola (Olson) Koon, August 26, 1902-January 30, 2012. Viola has gone to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She was born the 3rd child of William and Myrtle (Payne) Olson in Pawnee Twp., Smith County, Kansas. She graduated Salutatorian from Lebanon High School in 1921 and went on to teach school in a one room school house, before coming to Grand Rapids and marrying Delbert Koon. She attended North Park Presbyterian Church and was a member of the Park Literary Club for many years. Viola loved to write songs, poems, and tell stories about growing up on a farm in Kansas. One of her greatest pleasures was going back to Lebanon, KS. to attend Old Settlers Day. Her father played the fiddle at the square dances, which Viola and her sisters and brothers attended, as that was one of the ways that folks back then entertained themselves. There was no television, telephone, radio or cars. During WWII., she worked for a defense plant and was chosen to sew the flag that was presented to President Roosevelt when he came to Grand Rapids. She was also a faithful reader of the Bible and quoted it to her children whenever a question was asked by them. She was well cared for at the end by the staff at Pilgrim Manor, and was with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren who loved her very much. She was preceded in death by her husband Delbert, daughter Joyce, son, David, grandson, Joseph Pulaski, son-in-law, Richard Tryon, son-in-law, Ben Blandford, and daughter-in-law, Cheryl Koon. Surviving are daughters Ilene (Rudy) Seadal of Grand Rapids, Donna Blandford of Ft. Myers, FL., Violet (Bert) Pulaski of Sarasota, FL., Elaine (Richard) Light of Bristol, N.H., sons, Darrell (Nancy) of Jackson, MI., Elden (Anne) of Bonners Ferry, Idaho., Arden (Francis) of Punta Gorda, FL., Ross of Grand Rapids. Many grandchildren, great grandchildren, great great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Funeral and committal services will be held 1:00 p.m. Saturday February 4, 2012 at North Park Presbyterian Church, 500 North Park Street N.E., with Rev. Helen Havlik officiating. Interment in Fairplains Cemetery. If you would like to pay your respects to Viola, please visit the Reyers North Valley Chapel from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Friday February 3rd. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to North Park Presbyterian Church, or to Pilgrim Manor.