Wava Marie (Martin) VanBecelaere, 91, passed away on May 30 in Pittsburg, KS.  Wava was born on Nov. 5, 1934, in Columbus, KS to Robert Lawrence and Cozy Anna (Draeger) Martin. She attended Richland Valley Elementary School in Columbus and Columbus High School. She graduated in 1952 and was employed by the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in Pittsburg for five years. She married James D. VanBecelaere in 1957 at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Pittsburg. On Dec. 28, 2025, they celebrated 68 years of marriage. He preceded her in death on March 25, 2026.