Velva Carlane Bruster

Aunt Velva Carlene Bruster (formerly Hale) died in her home, on
November 19, 2024. She was 68 years old. Whether you knew her for a
day or the better part of a century, she was Aunt Velva. She claimed
she knew from age four, all she ever wanted was to take care of
people; especially her younger sister Duana's babies.
Duana and brother-in-law Steve Guinty gave Velva five nieces and
nephews to care for: Chelsea, Velva (Roxanne), Ethan Hale, Charlie,
and Chance. Years later, Roxanne married Steve Woodward, giving Velva
another nephew and a few years after that great-nephews Owen and
Edison. She is survived by all.
In death Velva is reunited with her mother Velva "Betty", father Carl,
brother Warner Allen, and twin brother Veldo.
Growing up, Velva was very close to her dad, who nicknamed her Carnie.
They watched football together every weekend. Even after she went off
to college, she would call home on Sundays to talk football. They
were avid Kansas City Chiefs fans. One Christmas Carl gifted Carnie
with a football, which she played with until the bladder fell out.
Her favorite grade school memories were playing football with the boys
and acting as a spy between the boys club of Velva, Bob Voegele, and
Charles Rouch and the girls club of Duana, Cindy Voegele-Schalk, and
Debbie Rouch.
In high school, Velva joined the science club, the FFA, and the
yearbook. In the science club, she signed up for animal science
class, but was placed in advanced animal science class, where she was
the only girl; a trend that would continue throughout her entire
career. Velva ran for FFA State Office and was in the running for
President, a first for a girl in the state of Kansas. She ended up as
VP and credits her FFA experience with changing her life from a shy,
stay at home girl to a confident, capable, friend to everyone. A
lifelong photographer, Velva was active on the Ark City High School
yearbook all 3 years and worked as photographer of the FFA National
Convention for several years.
Following her graduation from Ark City High School in 1974, Velva
attended Kansas State University, where she fell in love with the
power cat; a love story that carried through the rest of her life.
Velva continued her leadership journey, serving on the governing body
at her dorm, Moore Hall. In 1975, Velva was crowned Cowley County
Wheat Queen.
Velva left K-State in 1979 and returned to Ark City. She took an
administrative job at the hospital and began her EMT training at
Cowley County Community College. Once licensed, Velva worked as an
EMT at the Ark City Police Department, where she met her future
ex-husband Steve Bruster and stepson Chris, who she stayed in touch
with for the remainder of her life.
In December 1984, Velva & the ambulances moved to the Fire Department,
where she was the first woman again. When she joined, there were no
accommodations for women, so she slept on a cot and used the restroom
in the chief's office, until they built the women's bunks and
bathrooms.
After nearly 20 years serving her Ark City community, Velva moved to
Tulsa, Oklahoma to be closer to Duana and Steve and their 5. Six
months later, the family moved to Columbus, Ohio, where Velva
continued her [in her words] "wonderful career taking care of people &
Duana's babies". She joined Ohio Health as a Home Health and Hospice
Aid, where she found a true passion helping patients through their
last stages of life.
In 2016, Velva left Ohio and spent 3 years in Kansas, Colorado, and
Oklahoma caring for her friends and family; specifically, her honorary
great nieces and nephews. Then, 2020 brought Velva back to the
farmhouse where she was born and raised. She lived in her childhood
home until she passed.
Services will be held Monday November 25, 2024 at the Rindt-Erdman Chapel in Arkansas City, Ks at 1:00 P.M., graveside service to follow at the Hope Cemetery. Pastor Dennis Voth will officiate.