Velva Lee Layton

Velva Lee (Robinson) Layton, 87, of Redlands California, went to be with her Lord and Savior on March 3, 2022. She passed away from natural causes.
Velva was born November 12, 1934 in Bakersfield California to Jim and Ruby (Brooks) Robinson. Her siblings, who all predeceased her, were Dorothy Farris, Ronald Robinson, and Carthal Ray (Corky) Robinson.
Velva grew up on a farm in the Arvin, California area and was a real tomboy, playing outdoors with her brothers and an assortment of pets. She played clarinet while attending Bakersfield High School, and the new Arvin High School, graduating in 1952. Velva always loved children and was a wonderful and popular babysitter while growing up. She decided she wanted to become a teacher so she attended Bakersfield College, graduating with an Associate of Arts in 1954 and then went on to San Jose State, where she graduated in 1956 with a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education and obtained a teaching credential for general elementary education. Velva began her career at Vineland Elementary in Kern County the same year.
While at San Jose State, Velva attended a church social which honored young servicemen who were stationed at nearby Fort Ord. There she met a handsome young man named Donald Layton and they embarked on a long distance relationship with many letters back and forth while he was stationed in Germany for two years. Once Don was discharged, they were engaged, marrying on July 27, 1957 in Bakersfield, California. Soon they moved to Fresno for part of Don’s college education, and Velva became a teacher on the local Romper Room TV program from 1961 to 1963. Velva really loved working on Romper Room, but had to retire when she became pregnant with her second child. In the early 60’s it was inappropriate for a woman to be pregnant on a children’s program. In Fresno, Velva had her first two children, Brenda in 1960 and Barry in 1964.
Don began working in the Oil Industry which required a lot of moving. Velva looked at it as a big adventure and enjoyed all the places they lived. She had a second son, Brian, in Bakersfield, California in 1973. Velva found teaching jobs as they moved up and down the state of California. In 1980 they moved to Kingwood Texas (a suburb of Houston) and lived there for five years where Velva taught in a Montessori School. They finally settled in Redlands, California in 1985 where Don retired in 2000.
Velva enjoyed gardening, traveling with good friends, teaching in children’s Sunday school, decorating for and attending the women’s Bible study at the church they attended in Redlands. She also thoroughly enjoyed her grandchildren. She would read to them when they were younger at home and in their classrooms and enjoyed acting out the voices in the stories. Velva was such a positive person, who was kind and helpful with everyone. She always had a smile on her face; she will be greatly missed by her family and others whose lives she touched. Special thanks to the kind and loving staff of Blossom Grove Alzheimer’s Special Care Center where Velva spent the final 4 years of her life.
Velva was predeceased by her husband Donald in January 2018. Velva leaves behind her daughter, Brenda Smith (Patrick), sons Barry Layton and Brian Layton (Heather); grandchildren, Britny Bay (Andy), Brandon Layton (Misty), Krystalyn Layton (Jesse), Kate Ethridge, Kaitlin Smith and Nina Layton; and great grandchildren, AJ Bay, Tailyn Smith and Baylie Bay.