1931-2022
Valeta LouElla (Jones) Poage passed away on March 22, 2022. She was a resident of Colorado Springs for 60 years. She was a kindergarten teacher in Widefield, District #3.
Valeta was born on July 28, 1931 in rural Graham County, KS. She was the second of ten children of Ivan and Vera (Hodge) Jones. She graduated from Lenora High School with the class of 1949. She received her BA and MA from Emporia State College, now known as Emporia State University.
Valeta (Jones) married Bill Eugene Poage on August 23, 1953 in Lenora, Kansas. They were blessed with two children, Patty Jo and Micky Eugene.
Valeta began her teaching career in a one room school in Almena, KS. She taught there for 1 ½ years. She then taught a year in a country school near Emporia, Kansas. Her next job was as a first grade teacher in Lincoln, Kansas. In 1962 the family relocated to Colorado Springs, Colorado. She taught first grade at Widefield Elementary in Colorado School District #3 and transferred to Talbott Elementary as a kindergarten teacher until her retirement in 1991.
Valeta’s passion was for her family and friends. She loved to travel and visited many places abroad. She also was fond of gardening. Valeta was a member of Good Shepherd United Methodist Church in Security, Colorado and then Sunrise United Methodist Church when Bill and she moved to the north end of Colorado Springs.
Valeta is survived by her loving husband, Bill Eugene Poage, a daughter Patty Jo and husband James Woods of Parker, CO, a son Micky Poage and wife Karen of Eagle, CO, three grandchildren, five great grandchildren, a brother Glenn Jones and wife Lee of Lenora, KS, two sisters June Stockman and Keith of Colorado Springs and Joyce Hodges and husband Terry Smith of Colorado Springs, CO, and a brother-in-law Kenneth Reimann of Edmond, KS.
Valeta was preceded in death by her parents Ivan and Vera, sisters Valera Jones, Ruby Riemann and Marilyn Hadley and brothers Dean, Carl, and Wayne.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 4, 2022, at Sunrise United Methodist Church, 2655 Briargate Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO. Interment will be at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, April 4, 2022, at Fairview Cemetery, 1000 S 26th St., Colorado Springs, CO. A reception will be held immediately following the Celebration Service at Sunrise United Methodist Church.
Memorials in Valeta’s name may be made to Sunrise United Methodist Church in lieu of flowers.