Winifred Alldaffer

Winifred Evelyn Tovey Alldaffer, age 93, was born on June 23, 1924 in Malad, Idaho, the oldest of 6 children born to Gwenfred E. and Morgan W. Tovey. She passed away Saturday, March 10, 2018, a resident of Bridgeview Estates in Twin Falls, Idaho. Winifred will be missed by everyone who knew her and had a chance to be around her quick wit and sense of humor.

She was raised on the family farm near Malad, a Welsh community, where music played an important part of her life. She grew up participating in music at home, school, church and the community.

Winifred married Robert Cecil Alldaffer on August 12, 1948 in Malad. They were married for 63 years. They lived in Moscow, Malad and then moved to Soda Springs in 1955 when Cecil accepted the position of Caribou County Extension Agent. They are the parents of two daughters, Sue Ann Alldaffer of Ferndale, WA, and Karen Alldaffer Abou-bakr Goodrich Randolph (Colin) of Twin Falls. She has one granddaughter, Ami Abou-bakr Farthing (Stephen) and two great-grandsons, Jackson Joseph and Samuel Robert of Amman, Jordan.

Winifred received her Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from the University of Idaho in 1946 and taught orchestra and choral music in Emmett, choral music in Moscow, and choral music in Soda Springs. She also taught private piano lessons in Malad, Grace and Soda Springs. She developed an outstanding choral music program at Soda Springs High School and was recognized by her peers as the first female President of the Idaho Music Educators Association (1980-1984) and was honored as I.M.E.A. Music Educator of the Year in 1985. She loved her many years of teaching music in the public schools of Idaho and felt very fortunate to have a career doing what she loved. She was affectionally known by her students as “Mrs. A”. Two of her many achievements were originating the Soda Pops Swing Choir and the annual Christmas Candlelight Concert at Soda Springs High School. Her hope was to inspire her students with a lifetime love of music.

Winifred expressed her personal love of music by participating in many Soda Springs community theatre performances, on stage and off, and helped direct the annual Caribou County ecumenical Christmas concert. She also directed the Presbyterian Church Choir for over 20 years and was a part-time church organist; was a Past Worthy Matron in the Order of Eastern Star and a Past Guardian of Job’s Daughters, and was an officer in both of the state organizations.  She was an active 4-H leader and recipient of the Friend of 4-H Award; a member of the Music Educators National Association, American Choral Directors Association, and Delta Kappa Gamma national women’s educational honorary.  Winifred also received the Woman of the Year Award in 1970 from the Business Professional Women. She enjoyed cooking, sewing and playing bridge with friends and was active in Pink Ladies. Winifred was honored to be initiated into the Twin Falls Chapter BE, P.E.O. in 2012 at the age of 88, where she made many wonderful friends.

Winifred was known to be extremely well organized, articulate and an intelligent person dedicated to her family, her teaching, and organizations to which she belonged.

Winifred and Cecil loved to travel, visiting their daughters when they lived in Germany, Japan and Egypt. They hosted many tour groups from Caribou County and traveled to Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United States.  Cecil would capture the highlights with his camera and Winifred would write and share complete journals of their adventures. They moved from Soda Springs to Twin Falls in 2009 where they resided at Bridgeview Estates.

Winifred "Mrs. A" was loved and admired by many and was told by a countless number of former students that she had a very positive influence on their lives. She had a very strong love for her immediate and extended family and was especially proud of her only grandchild, Ami and her husband Stephen, and two great-grandsons, Jackson and Sam. She loved their visits and hearing stories of all their adventures.

Winifred was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil; parents, Gwenfred and Morgan W.; siblings, Mary Sue (Borden), Morgan W. Tovey, Jr., John D. Tovey, and D. Cleve Tovey; and brother and sister-in-law, Marvin and Ilse Alldaffer.

She is survived by daughters, Sue Ann and Karen Marie (Colin); granddaughter, Ami (Stephen) and great-grandsons Jackson and Samuel; brother, Roger (Colleen) Tovey; sister-in-law, Myrna Tovey; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

The family would like to sincerely thank the staff and residents of Bridgeview Estates for making our mother’s time with you so special. She loved you all like her family. Many thanks to Dr. Stephen Kohtz and the staff at Encompass Hospice for the extra time, personal care and love you gave our mother.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at the Presbyterian Church in Soda Springs on Saturday, March 17, 2018 at 12:00 p.m. with Mazie Porter officiating. The in terment will follow at the Soda Springs cemetery. A service will also be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Twin Falls, on Saturday, March 24, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Phil Price officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Farnsworth Mortuary, Jerome.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Winifred’s name be sent to Chapter BE, P.E.O., c/o Sharon Meeks, Treasurer, 3243 Addison Ave. East, Twin Falls, ID 83301; First Presbyterian Church Choir, 209 Fifth Ave. North, Twin Falls, ID  83301; or the Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 716, Soda Springs, ID  83276.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family on Winifred's memorial page at www.farnsworthmortuary.com .