Sylvia Wareham
Babe was born on March 26, 1936 in Fruita, Colorado, daughter of Steve and Sylvia Brach. She was raised on the family farm and dairy along with her sisters, Rosie (Shorty) and Sally (Bee). As a young child she spent many hours with her Uncle Tony. Their close relationship lasted a lifetime. She attended Loma and Fruita schools participating in band, track, and driving stock cars on the weekends.
In addition to going to school she hauled a 1,100-gallon tank of water for their dairy cows starting at age 13.
After graduating high school, she married Bert Wareham. They had two sons, Steve and Lamar. The family moved many times in Utah and Colorado, eventually moving back to Loma.
Babe started driving school buses in the late 1970's and drove for 43 years. In addition to transporting students, she transported marathon runners to races and firefighters during the summers. She participated in bus rodeos. Babe was known as "Bus driver Babe" to multiple generations of families of the Lower Valley.
Family was equally important to Babe. She and her sisters continued to help with the family farm. Babe also helped with her granddaughter during the summer and supported her in sports and band events during the school year.
Babe was preceded in death by her parents, Steve and Sylvia Brach; her nephew Colby Schmidt; and former husband, Bert Wareham.
She is survived by her sons, Steve (Linda) Wareham and Lamar (Sheri) Wareham; granddaughter, Alicea Wareham, step-grandchildren, Thomas Fitzpatrick and Brenda Kruger; great-grandchildren, Addison and Olivia, all of Fruita, CO; sister, Rosie (Gary) Schmidt of Cheyenne, WY, and Sally (Vern) Morton of Steamboat Springs, CO; and niece, Shelby (Stacy) Knull and children of Crossfield, Alberta, Canada.
Memorial contributions can be made directly to HopeWest Hospice, 3090B N. 12th Street, Grand Junction, CO 81506 or the Fruita Chapter of FFA at Fruita Monument High School, 1102 Wildcat Avenue, Fruita, CO 81521.
A celebration of Babe's life will be held at Absolute Prestige Venue, 1351 Q Road, Loma, CO, on June 8, 2025 from 2:00PM - 4:00PM.