Obituary

CHALLIS L. VODRA
MAY 8, 1917 – – MARCH 8, 2009

Challis passed away after a brief illness at the age of 91. He was born in Holdrege, Nebraska. He graduated from Aurora, Nebraska High School. His father died when he was only 13 years old and his mother married a gentleman who owned a funeral home in Aurora. Challis attended the Williams Institute of Embalming and went into the family business until entering the U.S. Air Force early in World War II. He was stationed at Mitchell Field, New York, and was responsible for helping wounded soldiers returning from the European Theater of operations. He remembers that C-47’s brought in wounded GI’s 24/7. This was followed by POW’s arriving from the Pacific Theater, generally in very poor health.

Challis married his wife, Dorothy, in 1940. She passed away July 15, 2000. They were blessed with a son and daughter. He and Dorothy loved to travel the United States and Canada in their motor homes. They were both avid fishermen and hunters, especially enjoying pheasant hunting in Nebraska. They have wonderful memories of ‘house boating’ on Lake Powell when they lived in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Challis was a long-time member of the Masonic Lodge and Sesostris Shrine in Lincoln, Nebraska. He was very active over the years and successfully raised funds for the annual Shrine Football game. They owned a farm for many years in Nebraska and he has pictures of farm machinery and tractors he helped operate at harvest time. He lived in Highland Ranch, Colorado, before moving to Regents Point in April, 2007.

His two children are Donald L. Vodra of Newport Beach and Grace Ann Vogt of Denver, Colorado. There are 4 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. He will be buried in Lincoln Memorial Cemetery in Lincoln, Nebraska with private family gathering.

O’Connor Mortuary, 949 581-4300
www.oconnormortuary.com