Obituary of Viola Shumway

Viola B. J. Shumway, 103, of Boulder, CO, died Thursday, May 16, 2013 at TRU Hospice Care Center in Louisville, CO. A Celebration of Viola's life will be held in the chapel at Sunland Mortuary, 15826 Del Webb Blvd, Sun City, AZ, Tuesday, May 21, 10:00 a.m., with viewing at 9:30 a.m. Viola was born October 15, 1909 in Sunnyside, ND to Edwin Carter and Bessie Viola (Fawcett) Johnson. She spent her early years in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Viola received her R.N. at LaCrosse Lutheran Hospital Nursing School in La Crosse, Wisconsin. She received further education at Chicago Lying-In Hospital, the College of William and Mary and the University of Washington. Viola married Kenneth G. Shumway in San Francisco, California in 1942. He preceded her in death in 1999. Viola spent most of her career in public health in Chicago, IL, Ardmore, PA, Seattle and Tacoma, WA and China Lake and Victorville, CA. In Arizona she belonged to Faith Presbyterian Church, the Congregational Christian Fellowship, R.N. Breakfast Club, Genealogical Society, Huguenot Society and Daughters of the American Revolution. In Boulder she belonged to Mount Calvary Lutheran Church and the DAR. Viola is survived by her daughter, Gwendolyn S. (William) Wharton of Boulder, CO; nieces Donna Johnson of Seattle, WA, and Carol (Loren) Anderson of Salmon, ID; nephew Larry Johnson (Melrose Besario) of Little Rock, AK; grandchildren Ken Wharton (Kate Schafer) of Mountain View, CA, Paul Wharton of Westmont, IL, and Ruth (Pedro) McMillan of Nederland, CO; great grandchild Sophia Schafer-Wharton of Mountain View. Viola was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Kenneth Shumway and her brother Harlan E. Johnson. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, 3485 Stanford Court, Boulder CO 80305, or to TRU Community Care (TruCare.org).