Wallace Dean Vilven

Wallace D. Vilven, 89, a longtime resident of Wamego, Kansas, passed away January 8, 2010 at Garden Terrace Alzheimer’s Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Wallace Dean Vilven was born in Wamego, KS, to Leland and Velma (Kastner) Vilven, September 22, 1920. Wallace graduated from Wamego High School in 1938. He then attended Dodd Business School in Topeka and Kansas State University. During World War II, Wallace served as a radio operator on a naval blimp. He was one of twenty-seven men to cross the Atlantic Ocean on that blimp starting in Canada’s Newfoundland and going to Port Lyautey, North Africa, by way of an Azores stopover. He was awarded the Naval Air Medal for this unique achievement. In his professional life, Wallace was an insurance claims adjustor for Kansas Farm Bureau. He transferred to the claims adjusting department for Iowa National Mutual Insurance Co., in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and then to the Scott Wetzel Insurance Claims Co., in Salt Lake City, Utah, where one of their clients was Lloyds of London. He retired from the Pension Department at First Security Bank in Salt Lake City. He was also co-owner of the Gamble Store in Wamego, during his early working career. Wallace enjoyed traveling as a favorite pastime, going by camper, trailer, and motor home, having visited all fifty states. He retired in Sun City, Arizona where he spent 18 years of pleasure and enjoyment, and was a member of the Computer Club. The United Methodist Church was “his” church beginning with the enrollment in the Cradle Department, October 25, 1920. Wallace and Dorothy had always been members of the Wamego First United Methodist Church, except for a few years, when they were members of Excelsior, Minnesota, United Methodist Church and Chirst United Methodist Church in Salt Lake City. After retiring and leaving Salt Lake City, they transferred their memberships back to Wamego. In Sun City, Arizona, they attended the Lakeview United Methodist Church where Wallace was active on several committees, including the Foundation Board, which directed thousands of dollars of church funds to deserving projects. Wallace is survived by his wife of 67 years, Dorothy, two sons: Douglas and wife Denise, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Jon and wife Larkin, Crescent City, California; grandchildren: Mike Vilven, 1st Lt. U.S. Air Force, Wichita, KS, Dorothy “Dede” Vilven, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Kelly MacDicken and husband Ryan, Auburn, Washington; a sister Wanda Omer and husband George, Albuquerque, New Mexico; 2 nephews and several cousins. He was preceded in death by a daughter Marsha in 1969. Cremation has taken place, and a graveside service for Wallace will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, June 25, 2010 at Wamego City Cemetery. A memorial service for Wallace will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, June 25, 2010, following the graveside service at First United Methodist Church, Wamego, Kansas. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the First United Methodist Church, Wamego, and may be left in care of the Stewart Funeral Home of Wamego, P.O. Box 48, 66547.