Mrs. Velma Rose Skinner (Pine) passed away Monday at the age of age 92 at Pioneer Ridge ALF in Lawrence, Kansas. Velma was born on Christmas Day in 1928 to Roscoe and Kate Pine on their farm in North Lawrence. As a daughter of the depression, she developed a sense of practicality and thriftiness that would serve her well throughout her life. She graduated from Liberty (Lawrence) High School in 1946. Soon thereafter she met her future husband William (Bill) Davis Dillon. In 1948, they were married in La Port, Texas. In 1958, she and her growing family moved back to Lawrence. After Bill’s accidental death in 1966, she worked for Allied Signal and raised three sons as a single mother until she married Connie Monroe Skinner in 1970. Connie and Velma enjoyed 47 years of marriage until his death in 2018. Velma was an avid bowler.
Velma is survived by her three sons Charles, Larry and Lonnie (Ross) Dillon and their wives, as well as six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Ascend Hospice in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044. Online condolences may be posted on rumsey-yost.com. Friends and family members may attend the visitation on Wednesday December 29th from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. The funeral service, officiated by Chaplain Paul Reed, follows at 11:00 a.m.
The family would like to thank the staff of Pioneer Ridge Assisted Living for their excellent care and support of Velma over the years.
I am so sorry to hear of Velma’s passing. She was a dear friend and bowling buddy of mine for more years than I can count. I’ll forever treasure the wonderful memories I have of her. I am keeping all of you close in my thoughts and in my prayers. Hugs and Much Love,
My condolences to Velmas family I worked with her at King Radio and we were neighbors in North Lawrence she was an exceptional lady
We are sad to hear of Velma’s passing. She touched so many people. Our hearts go out to the families of Larry, Chuck, and Lonnie.
Chuck, Larry, Lonnie and the Dillon family, You are in our thoughts and prayers. Velma knew how to raise great men! God bless you all!
Velma always made time for me when I would fly through town on visits, and that time she made was always marvelous. Even when she was packing up her old house, she said come over anyway! And how we laughed as we folded curtains and organized a few things. She always had a new family story that I hadn’t heard or seen somewhere else. She was, in short, a family treasure. I will miss her. My sympathy and prayers go out to her family.
chuck, larry, and lonnie, and your family, sorry to see your moms passing.
Sorry for the loss of Velma, I work with her many year and was part of the North Lawrence family.
We were saddened to hear of Velma’s passing. She was a wonderful patient. May her memory forever be a blessing.
Our entire family mourns Velma’s loss. She was a wonderful neighbor for many years and a sunbeam for our children at Woodlawn. She was missed when she moved from North Lawrence and will be missed eternally now.
My condolences to the family. Velma was a wonderful woman. I bowled with her on the Wednesday Night Ladies team and I had nice visits with her when I delivered her AVON orders. Blessings of peace to you.
Our sincere sympathy to Velma’s family! She was a wonderful lady and we loved her very much!