07/16/2006
Carmen Elizabeth Becker: Carmen died Sunday morning at her home in Oskaloosa at the age of 93 years, 2 months and 8 days.
Memorials may be made to the Becker Scholarship Fund, First Presbyterian Church, Oskaloosa, IA.
Carmen was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Oskaloosa where she served as an elder and a deacon and sang in the church choir until she was 91 years old. She served in different roles in Presbyterian Women throughout the years, and was an active member of her women's circle.
She has been involved in the Des Moines Presbytery, Church Women United, Oskaloosa Area Association of Churches, Hospice Auxiliary, Mahaska Hospice, American Cancer Society of Mahaska County, as well as other service organizations.
Carmen was a member of P.E.O. Chapter X, Mahaska County Republican Women and attended Eggs and Issues regularly. She received the Valiant Women Award from Church Women United in Oskaloosa, an Iowa Hospice Volunteer award, and an honorary membership from Presbyterian Women.
Carmen loved working in her garden and appreciated the beauty of nature; she was an avid reader and also enjoyed programs at the Daily Auditorium. Carmen's care and compassion for the young and old alike will be remembered by many.
Carmen Elizabeth Becker was born May 8, 1913, near Harvey, Iowa at the country home of her parents, Bertha Rouze and Clarke Loynachan. She was a 1931 graduate of Knoxville High School and received her registered nursing certification in 1934, from Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. She and Charles Becker of Shenandoah, IA were married December 31, 1939, in Knoxville, IA.
The family moved to Oskaloosa in 1962, where Carmen worked at Mahaska County Hospital as a R.N. until her retirement in 1979.
Carmen's family includes three children and spouses: Stephen (Diane) Becker of Lansing, KS; Stephanie (Hans) Cornelder of Oskaloosa and David (Cathy) Becker of Scottsville, TX; grandchildren: Chris (Esther) Becker of London, England; Carrie (Damon) Hininger of Nashville, TN; Kelsie (Eric) Dales of Sacramento, CA; Christine (Stephen) Case of Oxford, MS and Candice Becker of Scottsville, TX.
Carmen had one great granddaughter, Elizabeth and an extended family of step-grandchildren that included David and Kristine Cornelder of Des Moines; Paul, Amy and Daniel Gordiejew of Boardman, OH; Mark, Sally, Nick and Jack Graham of Tampa, FL; Gary and Dawn Graham of Oceanside, CA and Clifford, Gina and Kyra Graham of Oceanside, CA.