Eileene Zelma Grose

Eileene Zelma Grose

Jan. 8, 1918 -June 25, 2016

OBERLIN, Kan. -- Eileene Zelma Grose, age 98, passed away on June 25, 2016, at Decatur County Health Systems in Oberlin.

She was born on Jan. 8, 1918, in Thomas County, Kan., to Edgar and Velma (Williams) Taylor. She was the oldest of six siblings. Eileene attended school in Selden, Kan., and one day each week would ride the train from Selden to Rexford and back for violin lessons. She graduated her eighth grade year as Valedictorian of her class and got to play a violin solo. After her eighth grade graduation, her family moved to Colby and her sophomore year to Almena, Kan., where she met W. Wayne Grose. On June 4, 1936, they were married in the Methodist parsonage. Five children were born from this union. Eileene lived in numerous places throughout her younger years, including Norton, Kan., but the last 58 years have been in Oberlin. Her husband, Wayne, preceded her in death on Nov. 27, 1975.

Eileene loved music, reading and spending time with her family, her church and clubs. She was very active in attending as many of her kids' and grandkids' school and sporting activities and music events as she could and kept a scrapbook of all their newspaper articles. Eileene loved to crochet and made each one of her kids and grandkids an afghan. She was a member of the United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women and Phi Alpha. Eileene had a quick wit that would surprise her family on many occasions.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Wayne; son, Gary and infant son, Terry; infant granddaughter, Summer McConville; parents. Edgar and Velma Taylor; sister, Zelma; all her brothers, Edgar Wayne, Kenneth, Francis, and Bill; and son-in-law, Merald Van Vleet.

Eileene is survived by daughters, Cheryl (Sid) Metcalf and Pam Van Vleet, both of Oberlin and Kim (Mark) McConville of Indianola, Neb.; daughter-in-law, Dee Grose of Berthoud, Colo.; and nine grandchildren, Todd Grose, Michelle Kessler, Shannon Metcalf, Shad Metcalf, Chris Metcalf, Heidi Sidwell, Brooke Brooks, Brittany McConville and Dylan McConville; 15 great grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.

Funeral services were Thursday, June 30, 2016, at Pauls Funeral Home in Oberlin with Pastor Gordon Pettibone officiating. Burial was in the Oberlin Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be given in Eileene's memory to the Oberlin United Methodist Church or Oberlin Library in care of Pauls Funeral Home, 121 N. Penn Ave., Oberlin, KS 67749 (www.paulsfh.com).

Pauls Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.