Obituary of Orvada Capps

Orvada D. Capps of Doniphan, Missouri, died Friday, February 6, 2015, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Orvada was born in the Oak Grove Community, 4 miles from Doniphan on March 2, 1928. She graduated from Doniphan High School in 1946, the valedictorian of her class. On February 22, 1953, she was married to Bill Capps, her husband for 59 years. Bill preceded her in death April 12, 2012. Also preceding her in death were her parents, Orvil and Ada (Pepmiller) Dickerson, and her sister, Louise Brake Survivors include 5 nieces, 2 nephews, several Pepmiller cousins, caregivers and many, many friends. Orvada graduated from Southwest Baptist College in 1948 and Southeast Missouri State University in 1950 earning a B.S. degree with majors in music and English. At Bolivar she traveled with a girls' quartet and octet representing the college. At Cape Girardeau she was a member of and soprano soloist with the traveling A-capella choir. She was recognized in the college yearbook as an outstanding senior personality. In 1950 Orvada returned to Doniphan to begin her teaching career. She taught in the Doniphan Schools for 40 years - first as vocal music supervisor for elementary, junior high and senior high schools. She also taught sophomore and junior English classes for a number of these same years. With elementary principal Vincent Wright and art supervisor Helen Baker, a new program, "The Fine Arts Festival" was begun. The well-received program is still presented each year. She was also most generous with her own music talents as well as those of her performing groups. The elementary operetta was always the highlight of the school year. In 1966 she earned a master's degree in English from Arkansas State University. She also took graduate work in Library Science from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. The last 14 years of her teaching career she was librarian at the junior high school, work she found to be most rewarding. Orvada also introduced and taught the first program for gifted children in the junior high school. Mrs. Capps was a 50+ year member of P.E.O., Tuesday Reading Club and Jr. Fiction Club. Her hobbies included playing bridge, reading, camping and fishing at Norfork Lake and playing the piano. She was a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church. In 1998 Bill and Orvada were honored to be chosen Grand Marshals for the Labor Day Homecoming Parade. Funeral services for Mrs. Capps will be held Sunday, February 8, 2015 at 1:00 P.M. in the Edwards Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Larry Earl officiating. Visiting will start at 11:00 A.M. Sunday and burial will be in the Oak Grove Cemetery.