Veleta Renel Oldfield

Veleta Renel Cook passed away peacefully on December 1, 2025 at age 75.

Veleta was born on September 15, 1950 to mother, Louise Odette Lamkin-Cook and, father, Granvel Otis Cook. She grew up on a farm where Newman University is now located, in Wichita, KS. Later she and her mother moved near 48th and Seneca on the same street with her grandparents and cousins. Lots of happy family memories there. 

Veleta went to Sacred Heart School and graduated from Wichita South High in 1968. As a teenager, she won music contests with her accordion playing. She met Barney, Gilbert Lawrence Oldfield, Jr., shortly after graduation where he was working at an auto service garage. They dated for a short time before getting married in 1970. Veleta went to dental school and began working with Dr. Harris as a dental assistant in 1969. Beginning in 1979, she worked at Aetna Insurance as a medical and dental claims processor until they closed their Wichita office. She then worked at Riverside Hospital in the billing department. She eventually was employed at Pizza Hut’s home office in the benefits department until their offices were transferred out of Wichita. Veleta began working at T-Mobile as a customer care representative and front office receptionist. 

Her passion was working with people. She treated everyone she met as though she knew them, and greeted each person with a smile and cheery hello, eager to help in any way she could. After Barney’s passing in 2003, Veleta worked at Zales Jewelers, Von Mauer Department store and Cracker Barrel as a sales associate where she could be around people. Veleta worked as a receptionist at Hall’s Culligan water for ten years, beginning in 2008, until she “retired” in 2018. She was always a positive addition to the team wherever she worked. Not ready to stop and smell the roses, she worked part-time at Wal-Mart, and just recently started working at Home Goods. Every place Veleta worked was a new place to meet and make friends. Her friends were her family, and became a very important part of her life. She enjoyed shopping, traveling, and talking…. about, and to, and with her family of friends. A Good Friend Is one who knows where you’ve been, Accepts you for what you are, And encourages you to grow. 

A Celebration of Life Service for Veleta will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, January 3, 2026, at Cozine Life Events Center, 11500 E. 21st St. N. in Wichita. A memorial has been established with the Kansas Humane Society. Share condolences at www.cozine.com. Services by Cozine Memorial Group-Cozine Life Events Center.