TOPEKA – Vada Zenith Crain, 92, of Topeka and formerly of Halstead, passed away peacefully Oct. 3, 2017 at Midland Hospice House in Topeka with her daughter and grandson at her side.
Vada was born in Halstead on Feb. 6, 1925 to Cornelius C. Koehn and Elizabeth V. Schmidt Koehn. She is survived by a sister, Nola Joyce Dent, Newton; a daughter, Noel Joyce Long, Topeka, a son, Paul Eric Reaves (Donna) of Forth Worth, Texas; two grandsons, Corbin Long of Washington D.C., and Paul Eric Reaves Jr. (Megan) of Lubbock, Texas, and one granddaughter, Julia Elizabeth Allen (Jacob) of Forth Worth, Texas; four great-grandsons, Grayson Hunter Allen, Blain James Reaves, Kanon Cash Reaves and Rush Roman Reaves; two great-granddaughters, Gracelynn Haisley Allen and Preslee Elizabeth Reaves; and many nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly.
Vada was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters, Cornelia Cotton, Vivian Roberts and Lucille Jantz; and one brother, Dale Koehn.
Vada grew up in Halstead and attended Halstead schools. For the last eight years Vada had lived at McCrite Plaza in Topeka. Before that she lived in Wichita, Newton, Halstead and Anchorage, Alaska. She was a hard worker and spent most of her life in the food service industry. In her younger years she was a waitress/server in Halstead; a food preparer for Alaska Airlines in Anchorage; an employee of a dinner theatre in Wichita; and worked in transportation at St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Wichita.
Vada treasured her family and friends. She was an advocate for animals, all animals, but especially cats and dogs. Seems like she was always “rescuing” an animal and usually ended up giving the animal a home with her. She was sometimes dubbed “the cat lady” by her neighbors and fellow employees.
A celebration of Vada’s life was held Sunday, Oct. 8 in Newton with burial following at a later date. While Vada will be missed by all who knew her, we know that she is now at peace and “free at last.”
