Ova Halfhill

Ova Viola Halfhill, 95, formerly of Des Moines, passed away Monday, February 13, 2012, at Carlisle Care Center in Carlisle, Iowa, where she has resided since January 2004.

Visitation for family and friends will be held on Friday, February 17, from 5 to 8 p.m., at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Avenue in Des Moines, Iowa. Services for Ova will be held at Hamilton’s on Saturday at 10 a.m. A private inurnment service for Ova will be held later in Allerton, Iowa, where she will be laid to rest next to her husband, Doyle.

Ova was born August 27, 1916, in Humeston, Iowa, to Lloyd and Cleo (Auxier) Gibbs. She was the eldest of six daughters and five sons. She grew up in Humeston and excelled in basketball in the early 1930s. Ova married Doyle Halfhill of nearby Allerton, Iowa, in 1933. They raised nine children, living in the Burlington area during the WWII years, moving to Des Moines in 1952.

Ova worked as a waitress and as a sales person at Woolworths for several years. She trained at Mercy Hospital and became a Nursing Aide in 1964. She retired at the age of 62 in 1979, after 15 years of service.

In retirement, Ova and Doyle moved from Des Moines to Chariton, Iowa. There, Ova and Doyle were members of the 1st Baptist Church. They enjoyed much communion with members of the group there. They endured great health there as they traveled to visit favorite places and grandchildren in their travel trailer. In 1989, Ova lost her husband after 56 years of marriage.

Preceding her in death are her parents, Lloyd and Cleo Gibbs; her husband, Doyle; her daughter, Carole; her son, Roger; her sisters, Lena Schmell and Leta Williamson; and her brothers, Lloyd Gibbs, Gordon Gibbs, and Jerry Gibbs.

Left to celebrate her memory are her daughters, Joan Kreidler, Ellie Northway, Vivian Terry, Bev Jenkins, and Cherry Jordan Lee; sons, Michael and Bill Halfhill; 30 grandchildren; 77 great-grandchildren; and 45 great-great-grandchildren. All will have a funny, bright and shining cluster of memories of a special grandmother. Ova is also survived by her siblings, Avis Watson, Dale Gibbs, Jeanette Chess, Joyce Thom, and Craig Gibbs.

Memorial contributions will be directed to the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, U of I Hospitals and Clinics, Dept. of Neurology, 2155 RCP, Iowa City, Iowa 52242.

Online condolences may be made to:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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