Velma Lorene (Saville) Boman-Gosa

Velma Lorene Saville was born November 29, 1928 on a farm near Mountain Park.  Her parents were Elzie Franklin Saville and Lola Elpha (Mitchell) Saville.  
She was the youngest child of the family, as her brother Aubry Franklin Saville was born in 1921.  The Saville family lived north of Mountain Park, and by 1940, had purchased a farm on State Highway 54.  Velma attended Snyder Public Schools.  She rode a school bus and became enamored with a young man who rode the same bus.  William Gaston Boman Junior also became enthralled with her.  They began dating, and he graduated from high school in 1944.
During the WWII years, many young American men were being drafted into the Army, and Junior was no different. By early 1945 it was evident the war in Europe would soon be won, and many men in training were shifted for the imminent invasion of the Japanese home islands.  As with many young men of the war years, Junior proposed to Velma before he departed for his basic training and they were married on July 22, 1945. 
Velma and other young army-wife friends followed their husbands as they moved from post to post for training, worked as waitresses in restaurants, and rode trains and buses from post to post.  Soon the Japanese surrendered and the Pacific War was over.  This resulted in Junior being diverted to the Allied Army of Occupation in Germany.  Velma was able to complete her high school requirements and graduated from Snyder High School in the Class of 1946.
After his return from Germany and his mustering out of the Army, Velma and Junior made a home in Kiowa County where they farmed and he was involved in construction management.  On January 4, 1948, a son, Larry Don Boman was born.  On October 5, 1957, a second son was born, Randal Keith Boman.  After purchasing the Joseph H. Saville original homestead from her grandmother Mary B. Saville, they made a home there.  Her brother Aubry passed away in 1964, which was a devastating blow to her and her family.  
Life was busy with work, play, and Mountain Park/Snyder Methodist Church activities.  Velma and Junior loved to play games such as Canasta, Hand and Foot, Rook, and dominoes with their cousins in the area, and they also enjoyed camping out in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.  Velma began working outside the home at the Betsy Bra factory in Frederick in the mid-1960s.
Unfortunately, Junior died suddenly of a heart attack on November 10, 1967.  After this life-shattering loss, Velma continued to focus on both the farm and the factory job until 1970. Her father and mother were of great assistance to her during these years, and she became very focused on Methodist Church Women’s group and Tuesday Club activities.  During this time, she became very close friends to many people in the area.
On June 22, 1974, the young widow married James Marshal Gosa of the Tipton community.  James was a well-established agricultural producer in the Tillman County area.  As a wonderful homemaker, Velma became a member of the Tipton United Methodist Church, and continued her service at both the Tipton and Mountain Park/Snyder United Methodist Churches.  Her mother, Lola, passed away in 1976, and her father, Elzie, passed away in 1979.  
Her commitment to her friends, community and churches was well recognized in the area, and her cooking and homemaking skills were second to none. During the interim years, she took up multiple hobbies including ceramics, painting, and gardening.  By 2005, James had unfortunately passed away, and in 2006 Velma moved from the farm house on Highway 5 into a home within the city of Tipton.  Her oldest son, Larry Don passed away on June 14, 2014, a loss from which she never really recovered.  Velma was blessed with excellent health during her lifetime.  She remained active and at lived at her home among close friends in Tipton until reaching her 90th birthday in 2018.
In January, 2019, she moved to the Brookridge Retirement Community in Lawton after memory issues emerged.  After the Covid 19 pandemic, she relocated to the Brentwood Senior Living Center in Lawton.  As her memory continued to deteriorate, life became more challenging.  On January 3, 2025, surrounded by her loving family, Velma Lorene (Saville) Boman-Gosa quietly slipped away into the loving arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  She had been anticipating her heavenly reward for some time, and we are confident she was welcomed at the Gates of Heaven by prior deceased family and friends.  What an amazing game of canasta they must have had.
She is survived by her son Randy and his wife Dayna of Mountain Park and their three children Derek, Blake, and Mary Elizabeth (Ellie) all of Lubbock.  She is also survived by Larry Don’s children Justin Boman, of Moore, Chris DeCamp of Tuttle, and a total of 12 great-grandchildren.  Velma also had cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews who survive.  She will always be remembered as an excellent mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend.
The family will provide visitation on Friday, January 10, 2025 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Kincannon Funeral Home in Altus. Velma’s funeral will be Saturday, January 11, 2025, at 2 p.m. at the Snyder Methodist Church.  She will be interred beside her first husband, Junior in the Mountain Park Cemetery.  All arrangements are being provided by Kincannon Funeral Home.