Velma Louise Goodrum

Velma Louise Goodrum, age 95, of Lamar, passed away Monday, June 28, 2021 at Cox South Hospital in Springfield, Missouri following a short illness.   Velma was born October 2, 1925, near Gridley, Kansas, fourth of the ten children born to E.M. and Sophia (Sauder) Elrod.  E.M. was an evangelist and the Elrod family had lived in various communities in Kansas, California, and Missouri.  Velma graduated from Miller High School in 1943.  While working in the office of Barton County Electric, she met and fell in love with Dan Goodrum, a young lineman back from the war.  They married on November 3, 1946, making their home and raising their three children in Lamar. Dan and Velma had celebrated 67 years together at the time of his death in 2014.  Velma was also preceded in death by her parents; her step-mother, Dorothy Elrod; three brothers, Harvey, Glen, and Howard Elrod; and two sisters, Erma Misemer and Vera Elrod.   In addition to her role as a devoted wife and mother, Velma was an efficient and meticulous office manager, working for Reavley Dental, State Farm Insurance, Norris Grain, and Three Brothers Supply where she was named Rotary Employee of the Year in 1986.  After retiring from Three Brothers in 1990, Velma shared her time and talent as a volunteer, serving as president of Barton County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary for 14 years. She was honored as BCMH Auxiliary Volunteer of the year in 2009, elected in 2010 to the BCMH Hall of Fame, was named Phi Kappa RBO Woman of the Year in 2010, and Lamar United Methodist Church Woman of the Year in 2012.   Survivors include a son, Jim (Carol) Goodrum, Asheville, North Carolina; two daughters, Susie (George) Koerble, Fair Grove, Missouri and Brenda (Mike) Willet, Branson, Missouri; four sisters, Helen Bailey, Carthage, Missouri, Betty Runion, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Ruth Ann (Russell) Human, Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Rachel Elrod, Aurora, Colorado; seven grandchildren, Galen (Natasha) Goodrum, James Goodrum, Andrea (Trevor) Bray, Megan (Christopher) Hampton, Wendy Inman, Brian (Edna) Koerble, and Jennifer (Mark) Yount; and 11 great-grandchildren; and a large extended family.  Velma was looking forward to welcoming her 12th great-grandchild this December and her first great-great-grandbaby this July.   The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday at Daniel Funeral Home.   Funeral services will be held  at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, July 3rd, at Daniel Funeral Home with burial in Memory Gardens Cemetery.   Memorial contributions are suggested to Nathan's Place in care of the funeral home.   Condolences may be shared at www.dfhlamar.com