Valdimer “Valdy” Mae Bairow, 85, of Wamego, Kansas passed away Friday, September 6, 2013 at the Valley Vista Good Samaritan Center of Wamego.
Valdy was born March 29, 1928 in rural Belvue, Kansas, the daughter of Oscar and Georgia (Chaffee) Domeny. After Oscar’s death Georgia married Wilson Welter whom Valdy knew as her father. Valdy attended schools in Westmoreland, Kansas, before graduating from Wamego High School in 1946. On January 18, 1947 Valdy married Dale E. Bairow at her parent’s home. He preceded her in death on June 19, 2002.
Valdy worked at the Pottawatomie County Extension Office before she married. She was a homemaker and a seamstress for many people. She worked at the McCall Pattern Company for 18 years until her retirement in 1989. She wrote the Laclede News for the local Westmoreland, Wamego and Onaga newspapers for over 56 years. Valdy was a member of the Laclede Baptist Church, Laclede FCE for 61 years, a member of the KVB Heritage Club, the Wamego High School Alumni Association, a former 4-H Club leader and a great supporter of K-State Research and Extension educational programs. She won the Heart of FCE award for the Northeast area, then selected as the Kansas state winner, and received recognition at the National level all in 2013. She enjoyed sewing, cooking, canning, flowers, gardening, quilting, and the farm life. She most importantly loved spending time with her family.
Valdy is survived by her children: Sheila Burke, Thomas Bairow, and Sharon Bairow-Riffey and husband Don, all of Wamego, KS; one sister: Ruby Zeller and husband Ronald “Rocky” of Wamego, KS; 9 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and 6 great-great-grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by her parents, sister: Valeria Haas, brother: Dale Domeny and son-in-law: Mike Burke.
Funeral service for Valdy will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, September 12, 2013, at the Stewart Funeral Home, Wamego. Burial will follow in the Wamego City Cemetery. Valdy will lie in-state beginning at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, where family will gather for a visitation from 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. all at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Laclede Baptist Church or the Wamego High School Alumni Association Loan Fund and may be left in care of the Stewart Funeral Home, PO Box 48, Wamego, KS 66547.