Vera Violet Yardley Tolles, 91, of Dennis, Kansas, died at 6:45 p.m., Thursday, April 9, 2009, at the Good Samaritan Society in Parsons where she had resided the past year.
She was born June 17, 1917, in Kasak Pai, in the Province of Tashkent, in Western Siberia, to Thomas Theodore Yardley, an Englishman, who helped to manage a copper mine in Russia, and Daria Petrovnia Strillkoff, a Russian. During the Russian Revolution, the family escaped to Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, England, in approximately 1921, where she lived until graduating from high school.
She was an accomplished pianist, vocalist and violinist. During World War II, she worked in the land army, and while attending a charity dance, she met and fell in love with her sweetheart, Burnett. They had planned an English wedding, but Burnett's military orders changed, postponing the wedding until she was able to come to the United States.
Vera traveled first class to the United States aboard the maiden voyage of The Queen Elizabeth, where she was invited to dine at the captain's table. She arrived in New York City and traveled by train to Arkansas City, Kansas, to wed Burnett W. Tolles. Unfortunately, the trunk with all of her family possessions was mistakenly sent to Arkansas where all her valuables were lost. On March 2, 1947, she and Burnett were married in Cedar Vale, Kansas. He preceded her in death December 11, 2002.
Vera loved cooking, entertaining, and serving tea with a beautifully set table. She prayed specifically for over 300 people daily, and prayed for everyone and anyone she met, touching their lives in an unforgettable way. She especially enjoyed saying The Lord's Prayer in Russian. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother who adored her family, and was a devout Christian who wanted to set the example of God's unceasing love. Following her retirement from the family dairy operation, where she helped Burnett raise the baby calves, she worked in the dining room at the Parsons Presbyterian Manor for several years.
She was a member of the St. John's Episcopal Church in Parsons.
SURVIVORS:
One Son – Donald Tolles Dennis, KS
Two Daughters – Daria Condon & husband, Dennis Altamont, KS
Deborah Ewbank San Antonio, TX
Three Grandchildren – Chad Ewbank & wife, Opal Parsons, KS
Travis Condon & wife, Patricia Parsons, KS
Craig Condon & wife, Trinity Pittsburg, KS
Five Great-Grandchildren – Mary, Garrett, Lori, McCormick & Hunter
Three Nephews & their families England
Numerous Tolles family members
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by two brothers.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, April 14, 2009, at St. John's Episcopal Church in Parsons. Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, near Dennis. The family will receive friends from 7-8:00 p.m., Monday, at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons.
Memorials are suggested to St. John's Episcopal Church. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Vera Violet Yardley Tolles, please visit our flower store.
She was born June 17, 1917, in Kasak Pai, in the Province of Tashkent, in Western Siberia, to Thomas Theodore Yardley, an Englishman, who helped to manage a copper mine in Russia, and Daria Petrovnia Strillkoff, a Russian. During the Russian Revolution, the family escaped to Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, England, in approximately 1921, where she lived until graduating from high school.
She was an accomplished pianist, vocalist and violinist. During World War II, she worked in the land army, and while attending a charity dance, she met and fell in love with her sweetheart, Burnett. They had planned an English wedding, but Burnett's military orders changed, postponing the wedding until she was able to come to the United States.
Vera traveled first class to the United States aboard the maiden voyage of The Queen Elizabeth, where she was invited to dine at the captain's table. She arrived in New York City and traveled by train to Arkansas City, Kansas, to wed Burnett W. Tolles. Unfortunately, the trunk with all of her family possessions was mistakenly sent to Arkansas where all her valuables were lost. On March 2, 1947, she and Burnett were married in Cedar Vale, Kansas. He preceded her in death December 11, 2002.
Vera loved cooking, entertaining, and serving tea with a beautifully set table. She prayed specifically for over 300 people daily, and prayed for everyone and anyone she met, touching their lives in an unforgettable way. She especially enjoyed saying The Lord's Prayer in Russian. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother who adored her family, and was a devout Christian who wanted to set the example of God's unceasing love. Following her retirement from the family dairy operation, where she helped Burnett raise the baby calves, she worked in the dining room at the Parsons Presbyterian Manor for several years.
She was a member of the St. John's Episcopal Church in Parsons.
SURVIVORS:
One Son – Donald Tolles Dennis, KS
Two Daughters – Daria Condon & husband, Dennis Altamont, KS
Deborah Ewbank San Antonio, TX
Three Grandchildren – Chad Ewbank & wife, Opal Parsons, KS
Travis Condon & wife, Patricia Parsons, KS
Craig Condon & wife, Trinity Pittsburg, KS
Five Great-Grandchildren – Mary, Garrett, Lori, McCormick & Hunter
Three Nephews & their families England
Numerous Tolles family members
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by two brothers.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, April 14, 2009, at St. John's Episcopal Church in Parsons. Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, near Dennis. The family will receive friends from 7-8:00 p.m., Monday, at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons.
Memorials are suggested to St. John's Episcopal Church. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Vera Violet Yardley Tolles, please visit our flower store.
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