Phyllis Waldref

Phyllis was born November 5, 1932 in O’Brian County, Iowa, to Burdette and Gladys (Groff) Rohwer, and grew up on a farm. The family later moved to Ridgeway, Colorado. Phyllis graduated from Ridgeway High School in 1950 where she met Jack Beach, whom she married on May 19, 1951. They had one son, Kent Beach.

They later divorced and she moved to Grand Junction where she worked at Minerals Engineering, working with Ruth Waldref and met Ruth’s son, Richard “Dick” Waldref.

Phyllis and Dick married on April 22, 1956 and were married for 57 years. They had three sons: Alan, Grant, and Blane. Dick Waldref died on March 12, 2013.

Phyllis was co-owner and bookkeeper for the family painting and decorating business and Waldref’s Paint Stores in Glenwood Springs and Grand Junction, and was a bookkeeper for Steven’s Sporting Goods.

In 1969, the family moved to Glenwood Springs to open their first paint store, which she helped manage. They returned to Grand Junction in 1979 where she spent the rest of her life.

Phyllis had been an avid reader and loved to sew and do crossword puzzles. She loved to travel, especially when those destinations included trips to the beach to collect sea shells.

She served as president of the Ladies’ Auxiliary for Grand Junction Elks Lodge #575 and as president of the Beta Sigma Phi sorority. She was also active in the Eastern Star organization.

Phyllis is survived by four sons: Kent (Sue) Beach of Golden, Alan (Rhonna) Waldref of Meeker, Grant (Brenda) Waldref of Taos, NM, and Blane Waldref of Phoenix, AZ; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Dick, brother Paul of Anchorage, AK, and sister Beverly of Golden.

Interment will be at 3:00PM on October 13 at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado in Grand Junction. Contributions may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children, P.O. Box 1525, Ranson, WV 25438.