Obituary of Vada Carlson

Vada Loder Carlson, 90, of Lindsborg, passed away March 2, 2011, at her home in Lindsborg. Vade and Bertha (Forney) Hendershot had a baby girl on August 28, 1920 and named her Vada Bernice. She grew up on a farm near Langley and welcomed her brothers, Lloyd and Marvin. She married Leslie Loder, Leck to his friends, in 1940. Around this time, she realized that she needed a savior and committed her life to serving Jesus, the Christ. The children she bore, Connie, Doug, Bruce, and Teresa, would agree that she did what she could do to bring them to Jesus as well. Life dealt her a hard blow when Leslie died of an aneurism on October 5, 1963. She remained active in her church and community groups. And she started bowling. A lifelong bachelor who didn't have anything better to do than to come to ladies bowling night took an interest in this beautiful widow. The love story began. He was smitten, she was wooed, they were married on February 14, 1967. He became a devoted father and grandfather to her children and grandchildren. She said he always tried to do what would please her; he lived the scripture, "Husbands, love your wives...", and she, in turn, respected and honored him. Their lives revolved around service to God and the church. Active in all church activities, they served on lay witness missions, church barbecues and bazaars, and using their talents singing together for the Lord. They were the heart of family gatherings and the family joyously celebrated Christmases, birthdays and anniversaries for 43 years. Willard Carlson went on to be with the Lord on December 7, 2010 and she mourned and grieved her loss. She was a survivor who didn't give up, didn't quit, and her goal was, as ever, to serve her King. She tried to eat right, took a multitude of vitamins, visited her grandson three times a week for chiropractic treatments and the hairdresser every Friday, and exercised on her treadmill every day. And that's where she was when she went home. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Connie Lawrence, and brothers, Lloyd Hendershot and Marvin Hendershot. Vada is survived by sons, Douglas Loder of Langley and Bruce Loder of Brookeville, daughter, Teresa Arnhold of Ellsworth, 17 grandchildren, and 28 great-grandchildren. She was a great lady. She was a rock. She was a saint. But she would want the words spoken here to be about the Lord she loved. That frail little lady's life was about serving Him and it is her greatest desire that all her family meet her in glory. Her spirit is alive with Him and the mere 90 years she lived on this planet is not even a breath of time compared to the life which is to come. Her life was built on the Rock, Jesus the Messiah, the one who redeemed us so we could be with Him. Sin separates us from Him; there is a great chasm that can only be bridged by the cross. The Bible says that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. You have sinned and you cannot possibly be good enough to balance the scales and enter heaven on your own merit. Only the blood of Jesus saves. That's the message she would want to hear today. And, by the way, she CAN hear now. And she can dance and sing. She is with her Savior and her goal was to bring as many people with her as possible. If she knew you, she probably prayed for you. If she loved you, you know she did. And God is still moving to answer those prayers. The choice is yours. Visitation will be Monday from 5-7pm at Marquette United Methodist Church. A funeral service will be held Tuesday at 10:30am at Marquette United Methodist Church. Burial will be held in Langley Cemetery. Memorials may be designated to Marquette United Methodist Church or Riverview Estates in care of Christians Funeral Home 103 N. Washington PO Box 386 Lindsborg, KS 67456. Online condolences at www.ChristiansFuneralHome.com