Velma Izeta Martindale was born on August 13, 1918, the daughter of John and Anna Johnson McKeown in Henderson County, Illinois. Soon afterwards, her family moved to Burlington, Iowa. She was raised and educated in Burlington and graduated from Burlington High School with the Class of 1937. On November 8, 1941, she married Harry Martindale in Burlington. She was a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church and when Harry and Velma moved their family to Grinnell in 1954, she joined the First Presbyterian Church. She sang in the choir and helped with various church activities. Velma worked as a cook at Davis School when her children were older. Velma enjoyed cooking, knitting, crocheting and was a Blue Bird Leader and Den Mother. She never had anything cross to say about anyone, and loved spending time with her family. She could even say the alphabet backwards. Velma is survived by her children, Lyla (Wesley) Stout of Burlington, Harvey (Sue) Martindale of Grinnell, Mary Lou (Marvin) Doty of Grinnell and Ed (Betty) Martindale of Havelock, North Carolina; seven grandchildren, Chuck Stout, Stacy (Larry) Mason, Sara Martindale, Scott Doty, Jennifer (Frank) Moseley, Tammy (Jason) Starnes and Jason Martindale; twelve great grandchildren; one great-great grandchild and her sister-in-law, Verna Martindale of Dallas City, Illinois and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Harry in 1987 and all of her brothers, Paul, Ralph, Jack and Fritz McKeown and her sister, Twyla Murphy. Memorials may be directed to the First Presbyterian Church or to Grinnell Regional Hospice.