Loma Farrar

Loma Jeanne Fox Farrar, 89, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012.

She was born May 1, 1923, in Cassopolis, Mich., to Hazen and Ruby Brown Fox. She had lived in Cape Girardeau since 1951.

Mrs. Farrar graduated from Marcellus (Michigan) High School in 1941, and Mercy School of Nursing in Detroit and Battle Creek, Mich., in 1944.

She was a hospital nurse in Kalamazoo, Mich., and Battle Creek until she joined the Navy Nurse Corps in 1945. She was stationed at Treasure Island Naval Hospital in California, and it was there that she met her future husband, George Oliver Farrar.

They both were discharged in 1946, and she returned to Michigan where she worked in the contagion unit at University Hospital in Ann Arbor, and as a polio nurse for the American Red Cross in Wisconsin during the polio epidemic. Later that year, she moved to Kansas City, Mo., where she worked in the hospital and physician office settings.

She married George in 1948. They lived in Kansas City while he was practicing dentistry, and then moved to Cape Girardeau in 1951 to set up a private practice.

Mrs. Farrar was a passionate volunteer. She was a volunteer for the American Red Cross, was one of the founders of Meals on Wheels in Cape Girardeau, and was a member of Chapter JN of PEO. She was a longtime, active member of Centenary United Methodist Church.

She received the Clara Barton Honor Award in 1984 from the American Red Cross for 40 years of volunteering. The award is the highest the organization bestows on volunteers, for meritorious service in volunteer leadership positions. She is an emeritus member of the Cape Girardeau Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Mrs. Farrar was preceded in death by her parents; and a son, George Michael Farrar.

Survivors include her husband of 64 years, Dr. George O. Farrar; two daughters, Susan (Bill) Cole of Cape Girardeau, Mary (Kevin) Enger of St. Peters, Mo.; two grandchildren, Chris and Katie Cole of Cape Girardeau; a brother, Gerald Fox of Alma, Mich.; a sister-in-law, Wilma Bergjans of O'Fallon, Mo.; nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, who, like her immediate family, will miss her immensely.

Visitation will be from 3 p.m. to service time Friday at Centenary United Methodist Church.

A memorial service will be held at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the church, with the Rev. Karen Nothdurft officiating.

Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

The family asks that memorials be sent to Centenary United Methodist Church or the Cape Girardeau Chapter of the American Red Cross.