Viola Adela Bailey Koch known by all her friends as “Vi”, was born March 4^th 1927 at her grandparents home near Good Hope, Harrison County West Virginia.

She departed this life January 9^th 2017.

She was the third child of Carl and Avy (Kelly) Bailey. When she was 6 months old, her parents returned to their ranch south of Towner, Colorado. She attended the first and second grade at the Towner school. Her parents returned to West Virginia to care for her ailing grandmother. Though she started the third grade, illness kept her from finishing that grade. 

In 1936, her parents returned to Colorado and purchased a café in Eads.  Vi was in the third grade when the school burned.  The rest of her third grade, fourth, and fifth were taught in the bus garage while a new school was being built. 

Fall of 1939, her parents sold their café and purchased a café in Denver.  The altitude was too high for her father so they sold the café in Denver and bought one in Tribune, Kansas.  Vi stayed in Eads with her sister and family to finish the sixth grade in the new school.  She attended 7^th grade at Tribune.  Again they moved to Rocky Ford, Colorado.  She completed the eighth grade there. 

Vi returned to Eads to attend high school, living with her sister and family. She enjoyed playing with and caring for her nieces. 

On September 16^th 1944, she eloped with her high school sweetheart Donald Wayne Koch.  They were married at Syracuse, Kansas.  They were the parents of two children, Karla Jean & Vernon Wayne (Beatle).  Vi worked as bookkeeper at Bartlett & Company grain elevator for 28 years.  After her retirement she pursued her hobby of making quilts, wall hangings, and Christmas stockings for family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 47 1/2 years, her parents, her son-in-law Bill Buck, Grandson Ricky Buck, sister Barbara Aldrich, and brother Leeman Bailey.

She is survived by her children Karla and Beatle (wife Sharon), grandchildren Bradley/Dreama Buck, Kevin/Angela Koch, Krystal Koch, Hollie Frederick, and Stephanie Buck. Seven great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, and sister-in-law Helen Koch.

Funeral services for Vi Koch were held on Friday, January 13, 2017 at the United Methodist Church in Eads with Rev. Christine Richardson officiating.  Casketbearers were:  Kevin Koch, Bernie Koch, Jeff Koch, Jeff Uhland, Doug Uhland and Stacy Uhland.  Honorary casketbearers were:  Keith Uhland, Keith Simpson, Donnie Aldrich, Pete Koch, Wally Mosher, Scott Koch, Roger Koch and Barry Koch.  Final committal services were held at the Eads Cemetery.  Memorial contributions can be made to the Prairie Pines Assisted Living Community or the United Methodist Church.  Friends and family can register online condolences and sign the guestbook at www.brownfuneraldirectors.com.  Visitation and funeral services were entrusted to the care of the Brown Funeral Home in Eads.