Gulah V. Daron

Gulah Velma Daron of Oklahoma City and recently of Anaheim, CA, and Richardson, TX, died on January 17, 2012, in Richardson at the age of 99. Gulah was the widow of Dr. Garman H. Daron, Emeritus Professor of Anatomy at the University of Oklahoma School of Medicine. She was an accomplished pianist and music educator but will be remembered primarily as a soft-spoken, gentle lady and a kind and loving wife, mother, and friend.

Born in Centropolis, KS, on March 6, 1912 to Dr. Charles and Ida Hoover, Gulah was the third of six children and the oldest daughter. She grew up in the town of Overbrook, KS, where her father was the doctor and county coroner. In 1925 the family moved to Quinter, KS, where Gulah attended high school. Gulah earned undergraduate degrees in Music and English from McPherson College in McPherson, KS, and a master’s degree in Music Education from Northwestern University in Chicago, IL. She directed the music program in the grade and high schools in Cunningham, KS, until 1940, when she joined the faculty at McPherson College, to teach music education, serve as primary accompanist, and give private piano lessons. Gulah began studying the piano at the age of 12 and spent the next 83 years accompanying various soloists and musical groups.

In 1943, Gulah left the faculty at McPherson College to marry Garman Daron, a young widower with three children, Harlow, 11, Carol, 8, and Elizabeth, 3. Three years later Gulah gave birth to daughter Mary. Garman’s career took Gulah to Arlington, VA, until 1947, and then to Oklahoma City where she made her home for the next 60 years.

An active member of the Oklahoma City First Baptist Church, Gulah sang in the Sanctuary Choir, directed the Eight-Year-Old Choir, served as President of the Women’s Missionary Union, and thrice served as a delegate to the National Southern Baptist Convention. She was also an active member in both the music and literary groups of the Oklahoma City Sorosis Club.

Sixteen years after Garman’s death in 1989, Gulah sold their home in the Village in Oklahoma City and moved into an apartment at the Statesman’s Club. Then at the age of 95 she moved to Anaheim, CA, to live with daughter Elizabeth, where together they wrote her life story, "My Life in G Major." In 2009 she came to live with daughter Mary in Richardson, TX, where she lived until her death.

Gulah Daron is preceded in death by her husband Garman Daron, son Harlow Daron, great-grandchildren Elizabeth Daron and Joshua Redmon, and brothers Merle, Cecil, Ivan, and Sylvan Hoover. She is survived by her sister Maxine Doyle, daughters Carol Arnold, Elizabeth Redmon, and Mary Kamp, 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and 7 great-great-grandchildren.

Viewing will be Friday, January 27, from 1:00-8:00 PM at Hillside Funeral Home West, 2929 West 13th St. N, Wichita, KS 67203. On Saturday, January 28, private burial is at 10:00 AM at McPherson Cemetery, 1601 Cemetery Drive, McPherson, KS 67460, followed by a public Memorial Service at 11:00 AM at the McPherson Church of the Brethren, 200 N. Carrie, McPherson, KS 67460.