Vida Loberg Stanard

POLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Funeral services for Vida Loberg Stanard, who died Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018, were held Saturday in the sanctuary of First United Methodist Church in Poplar Bluff.

The Rev. Byron Beck, pastor of Fellowship General Baptist Church, officiated in the absence of the Rev. David Stewart, lead pastor at First Methodist. Burial followed in the family plot in Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Vida, 77, of Poplar Bluff was stricken with a massive brain hemorrhage as she slept at her home the morning of Oct. 16. After emergency care at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center and Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, neurosurgeons pronounced her condition untreatable. She died that night.

Vida retired in 2001 as admissions director at Three Rivers Community College, where she worked for 30 years as a fashion merchandising instructor and administrator. She earlier taught home economics at Dixon, Missouri, High School and at the Poplar Bluff Junior and Senior High Schools.

The highlight of her educational career was her role in helping students, both young and old, navigate the often intimidating experience of enrolling and succeeding in college. Many of those students continued to express their appreciation when encountering Vida in the community.

She was born on May 18, 1941, in a tiny apartment above her grandfather's Chevrolet dealership in the Bollinger County village of Sedgewickville, Missouri. Her father was killed in action on Christmas Eve, 1944, on his first mission as a U.S. Army Air Corps gunner aboard a B-24 bomber headed for Germany from northern England during World War II.

Educated in the elementary school at Pocahontas, her hometown, she graduated from nearby Jackson High School in the class of 1959. Her childhood was filled with 4-H activities, leading her in later life to many years of service as a member of the Missouri 4-H Foundation Board of Trustees, the fundraising arm of Missouri 4-H.

Vida attended the University of Missouri-Columbia on benefits from the war death of her father. She graduated in 1963 with a Bachelor of Science in Education, majoring in vocational home economics. In 1986 she was appointed by then Gov. Christopher "Kit" Bond to the Missouri Advisory Council on Vocational Education.

While a member of Marching Mizzou, the University of Missouri field band, she met fellow band member John R. Stanard, who became the love of her life. On July 7, 1963, they were married in a ceremony at St. John's Lutheran Church in Pocahontas. The Stanards moved to his hometown of Poplar Bluff in 1965.

Vida had been a member of the Chancel Choir at First Methodist; the board of directors of the Margaret Harwell Art Museum; Chapter MF, P.E.O., a women's philanthropic organization; the Monday Literary Club, and other organizations. She was active in the Community Concert Association and many other local civic projects.

Her husband, whom she adored, was the central focus of her life. And, she reveled in her associations with her children and grandchildren in all of their activities. Vida also enjoyed buying, selling and collecting antiques, especially glassware, of which "Vaseline glass" was her special interest.

Survivors include her husband; two children, Michael J. (Jennifer) Stanard of Wildwood, Missouri, and Christina Vogel of Ballwin, Missouri; her mother, Marjorie Swan of Pocahontas; three grandchildren, Audrey Stanard, William Vogel and Grace Vogel; two sisters, Nina (Ron) Swan-Kohler of Robins, Iowa, and Tina (Art) Druckenmiller of Marietta, Georgia; two brothers, Reg (Kathy) Swan of Cape Girardeau and Dr. Sam (Sheri) Swan of Knoxville, Tennessee; and many nieces and nephews.

Vida was preceded in death by her father, Sgt. Denver C. Loberg, and her stepfather, Norman Swan.

The family asks that any memorials be in the form of donations to the Choir Fund of First United Methodist Church, 500 N. Main St., Poplar Bluff, MO 63901.

Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff was in charge of arrangements.