Velma Farrar

1932 - 2023

Velma Farrar

December 30, 1932 - November 15, 2023

Kansas City, Missouri - Velma Louise Gaston Farrar, 90, died peacefully in her sleep on Wednesday, November 15th surrounded by her loving family.

Velma was born on December 30th, 1932 in Kinsley, Kansas to James and Helen Gaston. She was their second of three daughters. The family later moved to Kansas City, Kansas, where Velma graduated Wyandotte High School. She then went on to attend the University of Kansas where she was a contributing member of the Sigma Kappa Sorority. During her time at KU she met William (Bill) Farrar and they were married after she graduated.

During their long marriage, Velma and Bill traveled the world extensively and called many places home due to Bill's Air Force career. However, ultimately, they settled in Kansas City with their three children. Velma was a very devoted mother to Michael William, Vicki Lee, and Karen Kay and was incredibly proud of all their amazing lifelong accomplishments.

Velma had a very strong passion for community service and involvement and was a highly respected member of many different organizations in the Kansas City area. Most notably were her leadership contributions as a member of the Avondale United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, The Women's Society of Christian Service, AUMC Thrift Shop, PEO, Sigma Kappa Chapter Alumni Advisors, Girl Scouts of America, Camp Fire Girls, Red Hat Club, and many other groups that made a significant impact on the Kansas City and surrounding communities.

While Bill traveled often for work, Velma was a very loyal and dedicated Air Force wife and was active in the Wife's Club. Together, Bill and Velma dedicated 20 years of their life to the People-to-People Program at Fort Leavenworth. Throughout their involvement with the program, they hosted and sponsored 20 international officers and their families and shared with them much of our community, our culture, and our traditions. The relationships that were created during this time still continue and remain a very important and memorable part of their lives in the Air Force.

Another love of Velma's was education and helping to impact the lives of children throughout the community. She gave many years of her life to teaching and long term substituting within the North Kansas City School District. Her students were very important to her, and to see them succeed was such a great joy. She also spent many years serving on the Parent Teacher Association at her own children's schools.

Although her schedule was incredibly busy, she still made time for her favorite hobbies such as sewing, reading, crossword puzzles and theater. She loved her family and enjoyed spending as much time with them as possible. Velma is proceeded in death by her parents, her two sisters Thelma Knoff and Mildred Klem, her son Michael Farrar, and grandchildren Tim and Kelly Farrar. She is survived by her husband Bill; her daughters Vicki Thompson (Joseph) and Karen English (Brad); her grandchildren Kate Donaldson (Clint), Andrew Bischoff (Kelly), Joel Bischoff (Stephanie), Alex Beal (Sarah) and Jackson Beal (Miranda); and 6 great-grandchildren: Norah, Graham, Tucker, Benjamin, Logan, and Orval.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to the Avondale United Methodist Church and the Michael William Farrar Scholarship at the University of Missouri – Kansas City.

•Avondale United Methodist Church

•Michael Farrar Memorial Scholarship at the University of Missouri at Kansas City (UMKC) School of Medicine.

Memorial Services will be held at Avondale United Methodist Church on Tuesday, November 21st. The family will begin receiving visitors at 10:00 a.m. and the service will begin at 11:00 a.m.