Vada Lancaster Elam

Vada Lancaster Elam was born March 5, 1915 to Jenny and Cliff Lancaster who resided in the Beaukiss area. She attended school at Lawhon Springs and Lawrence Chapel. During her teenage years Vada’s 21 year old sister, Zuma died, and six months later Vada’s mother, Jenny passed away. Vada helped her dad take care of her 8 year old sister, Boots Lancaster.

Around the age of 21, Vada moved to Austin where she worked at the Austin State School. While in Austin she met and married Victor Elam in February of 1948. Vada and Vic lived for 50 plus years on Shoalwood in Austin, Texas. Vada lived a comfortable quiet life as a housewife. They had no children but loved their cat Bozo! For entertainment they loved to travel the United States or play dominoes with friends.

One memory the family will always cherish is Thanksgiving. Vada was an accomplished cook who treated her family every Thanksgiving to a delicious Thanksgiving meal which she and her husband, Vic proudly cooked all by themselves! Vada and Vic continued cooking this Thanksgiving meal until she was 88 at which time she reluctantly passed on the tradition to her family. Vada with her witty dry sense of humor said, “These golden years aren’t so golden.”

Vada died at 11:05 a.m. December 23, 2010 at Elgin Nursing and Rehabilitation. She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Victor Elam.

Vada is survived by one sister, Bernice Lancaster Blaschke (aka Boots); two nieces, Donna Dickey Nemec and husband, Harvey of Leander, Kathy Dickey Bartz and husband, Howard of Elgin; three great nieces, Amy Nemec of Leander, Holli Bartz Poling and husband Mat of Elgin, Jenny Bartz Leschber and husband, Matthew of Elgin; 4 great- great nephews, Kyge Poling, Caden Leschber, Bryce Poling and Joshua Poling and two great- great nieces, Addison Leschber and Brynn Leschber.