Lola I. Bilhimer, 97, of Shawnee, KS passed away on April 27th. She was born on March 18, 1918 in Linn, KS to Claude and Elnora (Vette) Weatherhead.

Lola was married at age 19 and when she was 8 months pregnant, her husband was killed in a tragic oil refinery accident. Widowed and getting ready to have a baby caused her to think she needed to have a skill and get a job so she could take care of her baby. So she came to Kansas City, went to Brown Mackie College to get her "stenography" degree, and then landed a job at a bomber plant down in the Fairfax area of Kansas City during WWII. She met her husband, Glen Bilhimer through family friends, and they were married in December of 1944. As of this past December, they celebrated 70 years of marriage, which puts them in a pretty elite class of married couples!!!

After her 3 children were in school, she worked for Vita Craft, because she could be home when they got home from school.

After a short tenure at Vita Craft, she got a job as a customer service rep for The Lee Company, in Merriam. Lola loved her job and her boss and was employed there for over 25 years.

Once she retired, Lola enjoyed her role as Grandma. She loved her children, her grandchildren and great granddaughters very much. The grandkids would love to go to Grandma's house, because she always strived to entertain them, even though they may be sick.

No one would ever go hungry at her house. She was famous for her Christmas dinner rolls, her pickled beets, her pies, and just about anything she made in her kitchen!! Raised on a farm, it was only natural for Lola to make use of home grown food. Every year, she and Glen would go to the farmers market, and buy the freshest of corn, tomatoes, and other veggies and fruits. She would can or freeze almost everything, and then eat fresh food all winter. Lola swore to the end that eating fresh is why she lived so long!

Lola was a deeply devoted Christian woman, and the church and her family were her life! She was a member of Overland Park Assembly of God for many years.

She was preceded in death by her son, Darrell Bilhimer, and all of her siblings. Lola is survived by her husband, Glen J. Bilhimer; children, Gary Bilhimer of Belleville, KS, and Cheryl Farkas (Rob Nace) of Overland Park, KS; grandchildren, Greg Bilhimer (Farrelee), Mark (Allison Harris) Bilhimer, Todd Bilhimer, Mandy Farkas, and Mallory (Farkas) (Scott Pearson); and 3 great granddaughters. She was a genuine, caring person who loved to laugh and enjoy life. She is happy and safe now in the presence of Jesus. She will forever be missed.

Visitation and Services

A visitation is scheduled for Fri., May 1 from 11a.m.-12p.m. at the Amos Family Funeral Home, with funeral services to follow at 12p.m. Burial at Johnson County Memorial Gardens.