09/04/2008
Darlene Vinson grew up on a farm near Pleasantville, IA, one of thirteen children. On Jun. 19, 1914, Darlene was born to Oliver and Minnie Buhman Vinson.
The family was very close and loved to laugh. She attended Knoxville High School in Knoxville, Iowa, staying with her Aunt Em while school was in session. In high school, she took courses that would prepare her to teach school.
Upon graduation on May 17, 1934, she began teaching in one room country schools. As the laws relating to teacher's credentials changed, she earned the appropriate degrees, including a Bachelors Degree from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.
When the laws changed eliminating country schools, Darlene moved to the school system in Pella, Iowa and taught 5th grade at Lincoln Elementary School. She was a very popular teacher there until her retirement in 1979. To this day, there are thousands of former students who remember her as their favorite teacher, and many others who wish she had been theirs.
On March 27, 1937, Darlene was married to David Morgan Bevan in Unionville, Missouri. On July 7, 1945, they welcomed a daughter, Linda Sue, to the family. Linda would be their only child.
After World War II, in which David served with the United States Navy, they built a home in the Scholte Heights subdivision in Pella and David returned to his employment at the Pella Post Office.
The neighbors became lifelong friends. After retirement from teaching for 45 years, in 1979, Darlene had more time to enjoy her hobbies.
She played golf at the Pella Golf & Country Club, became even more active at the First Baptist Church in Pella, made many quilts (which became treasured gifts), gardened and traveled. Since March of 1999 Darlene had been cared for at the Pella Regional Health Center where she passed away September 4, 2008 at the Long Term Care Unit at the age of 94 years.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Lynn Bridie of West Des Moines, Iowa, a brother, Jim Vinson of Indianola, Iowa and a sister, Frances Lyon of Pleasantville, Iowa, as well as many nieces and nephews across the country, and hundreds of former students and friends.
Darlene was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and ten siblings; two brothers, two sisters, and Raymond, Robert Charles, Alice Woolsey, Edna Ferre, Hazel Richards, and Mary Burns.
Her warmth and happy demeanor will be missed by her many, many friends and extended family.