Donna Lea Vair Bulgrin

Donna Vair Bulgrin passed away quietly on May 30, 2025, in Paonia, Colorado, after a long battle with Pulmonary Fibrosis. She was 87 years old. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Ted Vair, and son Carl Vair. She is survived by her husband: Virgil Bulgrin, Son: Keith Vair (Cindy), Daughter in Law: Jodi Raymond Vair, Grand children: Jason Vair, Heidelore Vair, Nicole Vair, Alexa Vair and Ari Vair, Great grandchildren: Brighid, Genevieve and Gabriel.

Memorial services will be held on 6/12/25 at 10:00 am at The Bible Center Church, 1117 3rd Street, Paonia, CO, followed by interment at 1:00 pm at the Riverside Cemetery, Hodgkiss, CO  33585 J 80 Road.

On September 2, 1937 Donna Lea Knight was born at Beth Israel Hospital in Denver, Colorado. Her parents were Lawrence Vernon Knight and Catherine Helen Rhea Knight. She had one older sister, Joan Catherine Myers.

Donna attended Denver Public Schools and graduated from Manual High School. The same school from which her father had graduated. In 1950 she received the Lord as her Savior at a Youth for Christ meeting at Phipps Auditorium in Denver. She attended the University of Denver for 2 years. She quit school when she married Ted Vair. They were married on Friday the 13th of December, 1957 in Lakewood, Colorado. They lived in Arvada for several years. They had 2 sons, Carl Allan and Keith Albert. In 1976 they moved to Coal Creek Canyon west of Denver.

Donna loved to be outdoors. She loved horses and dogs. She had a horse, Riot, when she lived in Coal Creek Canyon. She rode almost every day during the summer. If she was not riding, she was hiking. She had many hiking adventures….some of the awesome ones were hiking down Pikes Peak, 2 Colorado fourteeners–Grays and Torreys, Twin sisters peak, and over the Continental Divide.

Donna loved to attend Bible studies….to learn and grow in the Lord. She liked to facilitate Bible studies. She went on mission trips to Haiti, Mexico City and Ecuador.  

Ted and Donna went to Israel 3 different times. She loved Israel. One year she and Ted spent 3 weeks there attending prayer conferences and touring the country, visiting the places where Jesus walked.

Donna liked to do counted cross stitch and embroidery, making gifts for friends.

She truly loved to have a tea party to celebrate a friend’s birthday. Creating one on one time to make her friend feel loved. Donna enjoyed going to tea rooms for elegant afternoon tea. She would “dress” for tea in an elegant tea gown, a handmade shawl, a Victorinan hat and antique high top button shoes.

Donna and Ted moved to Paonia in 2004. Donna was glad to get away from the traffic and so many people on the front range. She enjoyed the quiet, slow pace of the western slope. They visited several churches and then began to attend Bible Center Church.

They enjoyed going to the senior center for lunch. They helped out by delivering meals and helped with the monthly birthday celebrations.

Donna’s husband Ted passed away in 2013.

Donna married Virgil Bulgrin on September 10, 2016. Donna and Virgil had many years of happiness filled with travel to their second home in Lake Havasu, Arizona, They were most happy when camping or attending church activities in Paonia and Hotchkiss. Donna enjoyed the love of Virgil’s daughters, Lisa, Diana, Marsha and their families. Gathering with friends and family was important to them. Their 9 years of marriage was a blessing to both of them.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in her name to National Jewish Health, 140 Jackson St. Denver, CO 80206. www.nationaljewish.org

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Taylor Funeral Service and Crematory.

View the Internet obituary and sign the online guest registry at: www.taylorfuneralservice.com