Vilna Dee Rhea

Funeral Services for Mr. Vilna D. Rhea, 96, of Tishomingo will be held on Monday, June 14, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. at the Church of the Nazarene in the Fillmore Community with Rev. Eugene Ledford officiating. Interment will follow in the Bold Springs Cemetery. Mr. Rhea passed away on Friday, June 11th, at his home. Vilna Dee Rhea was born on November 28, 1913 in Milburn, Oklahoma. One of seven children, from the union of Walter and Lena (Quaid) Rhea. He attended school through the 7th grade at Bold Springs and again repeated the 7th grade at Fillmore because Granma Rhea didn’t think the teacher had done her job that year. He went to the 12th grade at Fillmore. Vilna married Edna Lee Enloe in 1932. Charles Walter Rhea and Donna LaJoy (Rhea) Simmons were born of that union. On November 8, 1948, he married Troy McGill Tribble who had three daughters, Tomi, Valeta and Gwen Tribble. For several years, Vilna drove the horse drawn school wagon for Fillmore School, while farming and raising cattle. Then, for 17 years, he drove the Milburn School bus for school and sports events. In 1995, he and Troy sold their peanut farm and moved to Tishomingo to retire. They were married 61 years, 7 months and 3 days at the time of his passing on June 11th of this year. Vilna was blessed with wonderful friends and his wife, children and extended family always came first. He was happy just to be at home. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, J. T. Rhea and a sister, Evelyn Lee. Vilna is survived by his wife Troy, of the home; his son, Charles Rhea of Oklahoma City; his daughter, Donna Simmons & husband Raymond of Moore, Oklahoma; step-daughters, Tomi Wellmaker of Holly Lake Ranch, Texas, Valeta Sallee of Tishomingo and Gwen Vowell & husband Garland of Springer, Oklahoma; four sisters, Oleta Bolin, Thelma Lanier and Zeffie Breeden & husband Curtis, all of Oklahoma City and Zelma Perkins & husband Alphus of Blue, Oklahoma; 20 grandchildren; 43 great-grandchildren; 15 great-great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and his sister-in-law, Wanda Rhea of Borger, Texas. Pallbearers for the service will be Grandsons, Tony Simmons, Rick Simmons, Joe Rhea, Mike Germany, Greg Germany, Ray Trent, Jamie Trent and Andy Trent. Memorials may be made in Mr. Rhea’s name to the Milburn Education Foundation—PO Box 429—Milburn, OK 73450.

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Vilna Dee Rhea

November 28, 1913 - June 11, 2010