Vada Mae Mary Marcella (Edwards) Koval

Vada Mae Mary Marcella Koval, of Ocean Shores and Renton, passed away on November 11, 2016 at the age of 93. She was born on November 7, 1923 in Junction City, Kansas to parents James Clifford Edwards and Dorthea Riggs Edwards. Her early life was spent on the farm with her five brothers and two sisters until World War 2 when she worked at Herrington Army Airfield as a “Grease Monkey” for the 21st Bombardment Wing. She was part of the crew charged with the responsibility of staging B-29s for heavy bombardment duty overseas in the Pacific Theater. After the base closed she took a job as an office girl in a Manhattan (Kansas) furniture store and began college as an Art Major. In 1947 she went to Seattle, continuing college through correspondence art courses. Here she joined the USO where she met her future husband, William Koval. She followed him to Fairbanks, Alaska, where they were married in 1948. After a short time in Kansas, the family returned to the Seattle area in 1954. Vada took up her preferred life as a mother and homemaker, supplementing their income working in electronics assembly. Upon their retirement in 1984 Bill and Vada spent the next 15 years traveling the country until they settled in Mineral, Washington. She returned to her artwork with oil painting and wood carving classes, creating many paintings and stunning Kachina carvings. In 2008 she and Bill were in a car accident that left Bill paralyzed with a neck injury. They came to Renton, for his care, and where they were surrounded by family. After Bill passed in 2014, Vada continued to live with her oldest daughter and son-in-law, Dana Upegrove. In September she moved into her own ocean view apartment at Brookdale Assisted Living, Ocean Shores. Three of her daughters have homes in Ocean Shores where they kept her company and often took her to play Bingo and Pull Tabs, her favorite pass times. After several falls, she went to Montesano for rehab to regain stability and strength. She quietly slipped away, having reached at least two of her long term goals: living into her 90s and dying with her “own teeth.” After a funeral Mass at St. Anthony’s Catholic Parish in Renton, Vada will be laid to rest in Tahoma National Cemetery, next to her husband of 66 years. She is survived by her six daughters: Dauna, Sharon, Renee, Valerie, Cynthia, Juanita, four sons-in-law, 11 grandchildren and four great grand-children.

Memorial Contributions may be made to: St. Anthony’s Catholic Parish, 314 S. 4th St., Renton, WA 98057

The Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, November 22,at 11 am at St. Anthony’s Catholic Parish in Renton, preceded by a Rosary at 10 am, and followed by a committal at the Tahoma National Cemetery at 1:15 pm. All are welcome to attend.