Statler Family Obituaries
Cabage, Valma Jewel (nee Drexler)
Valma Jewel Cabage, 100, died Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008, at Wittenberg Lutheran Village in Crown Point, Ind.
She was born June 28, 1908, in Fornfelt (now Scott City), where she graduated from high school. She graduated from Southeast Missouri State Teachers College (now Southeast Missouri State University) and earned additional graduate hours from the University of Evansville and Washington University.
Her teaching career ranged from schools in Scott County and the Ozark Mountains during the depression to the Evansville schools where she served as a classroom teacher. She was especially proud of her service as a special-education teacher at Glenwood School in Evansville, where she became known for her innovative methods.
After retirement, she and her sister, Ruth Komis, organized reading classes for preschool children at Oakland City Public Library. Historical photos of Valma and some of her early classes in Missouri can be seen at www.liliswenson.com/visitvalma/teacher.htm.
Survivors include a daughter, Lilian (Stuart) Swenson of Dyer, Ind.; a grandson, Mark (Susan) Swenson of Northbrook, Ill.; a granddaughter, Christine (Robert) Wildeboer of Chicago; a niece, Ann (Joe) Rhodes of Newburgh; and a first cousin, Don (Diane) Williams of Lake St. Louis.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Tony and Edna Drexler; husband, Burles Cabage; a sister, Ruth (Jim) Komis; and a brother, Claude (Ada) Drexler.
Funeral service was held Oct. 3 at Lamb-Basham Memorial Chapel in Oakland City, Ind., with Dr. Douglas Low officiating. Burial was in Locust Hill Cemetery in Evansville.
Memorial contributions may be made to Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, 210 Harrison, Oakland City.
Obituary printed in the Wednesday, October 8, 2008 edition of the Southeast Missourian newspaper.
©2008 by David Statler of StatlerWeb
Last Updated: November 08, 2010