Veda was born on July 17, 1909, on the family farm near Searsboro, Iowa, to William and Julia Dearinger Gleason.' She attended rural school and'in June 1928 she received a high school degree by correspondence from the American School in Chicago. ' On December 16, 1929, she was married to Afton Ross Allen in Oskaloosa, Iowa.' They were the parents of three children, Wilbur Eugene, Julia Eunice and Oral Max Allen.' The couple operated a grain and livestock farm south of Searsboro and she worked for over 20 years in the housekeeping department of Grinnell College. Following her retirement, she moved to Grinnell and resided at Brookside South. ' She was a member of the United Methodist Church of Grinnell, the Rebekah Lodge and the Bunker Hill Club of Searsboro. Vida enjoyed gardening, raising flowers, reading, traveling and socializing with friends during a card or bingo game. She also made quilts for each of her grandchildren and loved to watch her grandchildren and great grandchildren participate in their sporting and school functions. ' Survivors include her children and their spouses, Wilbur (Myrna) Allen of Grinnell and Eunice (Marion) Eversdyk of Abilene, Texas; eight grandchildren; 23 great grandchildren; and 12 great great grandchildren. ' Veda died on Tuesday, February 7, 2006, at Friendship Manor in Grinnell. She was 96 years of age, and she was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; one son, Max Allen; two grandchildren, Cindy and Dennis Eversdyk; one sister, Elva Porter; and two brothers, John and Chalman Gleason. Memorials may be directed to Dollars for Scholars and sent in care of the Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, Iowa 50112.