Violet Mae Kloss, also affectionately known as Vi and Vickie passed away peacefully at Baldwin Park Kaiser with her family at her side on January 3, 2015 at 6:30 pm from congestive heart failure.

Violet was born on July 28, 1924 in Los Angeles, California to loving parents Martha Mae Burleson Rooks of Texas and Lyman Paul Rooks of California. She grew up in Lincoln Heights during the depression and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1942.

During World War II Violet volunteered at the USO and worked at B.F. Goodrich where she was named Ms. B.F. Goodrich. She christened the USS Daniel Drake at Cal-Ships in 1942.

On February 23, 1947 Violet married Adam Kloss of Pennsylvania in Long Beach, CA. They settled in Temple City where they raised their two children John and Mary.

Violet attended P.C.C. and graduated with her A.S. degree and a certification as a LVN. She spent most of her career as a LVN at St. Luke's Hospital in Pasadena where she thrived working with the children in the pediatric department.

Violet loved to travel going in 1980 to cold war Russia. She toured America from the great north to down south, the eastern seaboard and the mid-west; trekking to Alaska, Hawaii, Florida and New York and points in the middle. She was an adventurer. She shot down the Colorado river, white water rafting with Chuck Norris, crash landed in a hot air balloon and enjoyed the view in a dirigible. She knew Chuck Norris and you don't.

Violet was a reader. She always had a book with her, as anytime was a good time to immerse herself in the marvelous world of fiction. She enjoyed going to the movies weekly with her daughter Mary and to plays and musical events. She loved singing, dancing, putting on her own personal fashion shows, hot fudge sundaes with strawberry ice cream with extra nuts and See's candy.

Violet was a spiritual person. She attended church at the First United Methodist Church in Temple City since the 1950's. She was generous and believed in a life of giving and service, participating in organizations such as the Woman's Club, People for People, Eastern Star and the Daughters of the American Revolution. She gave unselfishly to a great number of charities, especially those supporting Native Americans, housing the homeless, feeding the hungry and helping those in poverty be educated.

Violet was president of the Jr. Woman's Club in the 1950's and instrumental in starting the program that distributed sugar cubes to all local school children to prevent polio. Violet was also president of the Woman's Club and Worthy Matron of the Temple City Chapter of the Eastern Star. She received the Outstanding Senior Citizen award for Temple City in 1995. She participated in YMCA exercise classes, senior center classes, Bunco, the lunch bunch and the Temple City Historical Society.

Violet is survived by her son John and daughter Mary, seven grandchildren: Katherine (Braden), Jeremy, Suzanne, Melissa (Scott), Joshua, Justine and Jonathan and three great-grandchildren: Timothy, Amanda and Jordan.

Violet loved everyone and enjoyed life, knew how to have fun. She will be remembered for her joyous smile and incandescent spirit.

Violet's memorial service will be held on Saturday January 10, 2015 at 11 am at the First United Methodist Church at 5957 Golden West Ave in Temple City and officiated by Rev. David Palmer. A reception will follow at the Church's Fellowship Hall.

Memorial donations can be made in lieu of flowers.

National Relief Charities
www.nrcprograms.org

Feeding American
www.feedingamerica.org

Habitat for Humanity
www.habitat.org