TOLEDO-Luella Leone Randall, age 94, a resident of Grandview Acres Care Center in Toledo, died on Saturday, July 21, 2007 at the center under the care of Iowa Hospice following a brief illness. Visitation will be from 11AM-12 noon on Monday, July 23, 2007 at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home with Graveside Services following at Woodlawn Cemetery in Toledo with Rev. LaVern Seth officiating.
Luella Leone Randall was born on March 29, 1913, in Traer, Iowa, the daughter of Jacob Burnside and Grace Evelyn (Everts) Head. She received her education in country school at Howard Township School No. 1 and Toledo High School.
On February 8, 1935, she married Floyd W. Randall in Marshalltown, Iowa. They made their home in Toledo residing at the same residence since 1937. Floyd died in August of 1973. Luella continued to live at the family residence until October 2004 at which time she moved to Grandview Acres.
Luella was a seamstress and homemaker for the majority of her life. In 1946, she went to work for the Central Iowa Telephone Company as a switchboard operator in Toledo. She remained at this job until 1961 when the company switched the Toledo exchange over to dial. Following the closure of the telephone office Luella enrolled in a nurse's aide program, and following completion of the course became employed by the Toledo Nursing Home followed by the Bethesda Care Center. During the years she was employed as a nurse's aide she also became a volunteer for the Toledo ambulance service, which was in the early years of its existence, and operated out of the Toledo Fire Department. She was active in the Toledo High School band-aide program from 1949 to 1955 when her children were members of the high school marching and concert bands. She helped raise funds for the procurement of new band uniforms during these years and participated in the maintenance of the uniforms during her tenure. Luella never missed an opportunity to attend a statewide band contest, which included the participation of her children. She was also a member of the Pleasant Hill Cemetery Society.
Luella was a thoughtful child who provided comfort and care to her parents during their latter years. She was also a very caring mother who provided meaningful guidance to her children. She cherished her time spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and took several trips with them in her travels. Her favorite saying as she got older was "It's just another day." She will be greatly missed and forever loved.
Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; and her four siblings, H. (Bud) Head, Riley Head, Hazel Smith, and Florence Davis.
Survivors include one daughter, Shirley (Lauren) Bowers of Nixa, MO; one son, Roger (Patricia) Randall of Coralville, IA; five grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; thirteen step-great grandchildren; and eight step-great great grandchildren.