With Velma, Don and Mark travelling around the world in the Air Force and then my own family spending our life in the same USAF mode, we saw each other infrequently.
However, Velma made an impact every time our orbits intersected. She had the grace and class of an Ace’s wife, the intellect and determination of an educator, the love and devotion of a daughter, wife, and mother, and for us as an aunt.
She and Don were larger than life to me and I remember being in awe when they took us to the Wright Patterson O’Club for a holiday luncheon. She played the matriarch with real élan. Then, almost sixty years later I had the pleasure to host them at the Mission Inn while on a business trip. She and Don showed up with the same class and style. Velma was dolled up, dressed in a slinky outfit, jewelry, and animal print high heels. She was so cool. We spent the next hours recalling their lives together, their early days at March, trading stories of our travels in England and Germany, remembering their courtship and marriage at the same Mission Inn. We visited the chapel in which they were married, saw the wings on the wall, and had a marvelous time. As our afternoon ended I remember telling her how cool and beautiful she was. And she cooed and said not bad for a girl from Kansas. Her eyes sparkled with both delight and a few tears as she held on to her Don. That is the moment I recalled as I say goodbye to my Aunt.
Love you, Aunt Velma. Kay and our children say goodbye with loss and hope to see you again in eternity. We will ensure the Cummings clans on both coasts stay together. Our thoughts are with Mark.