Arlie Glen Colva
Arlie Glen Colva, age 88, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, February 1, 2025. He was born June 30, 1936 in Laramie, Wyoming to Glen Charles and Martha Angeline (Meigs) Colva. Arlie grew up in Riverton, where he cultivated deep roots in the community.
Arlie and his siblings started out living on Arapahoe, where both parents were educators. He graduated from Riverton High School, Class of 1954 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Wyoming in 1959. He began his career working at Lucky MC Mines from 1959 to 1963. Encouraged by his father to explore the world, Arlie moved to Washington state from 1966 to 1975, where he met his first wife, worked for a commercial beekeeper as well as Chevron Chemical, and then returned to Riverton to join the family business, Colva Honey Works.
A proud family-owned and operated business, Colva Honey Works is a staple of the Fremont County agricultural community. Arlie was a dedicated beekeeper, and his bees thrived in the sweet clover and alfalfa fields. He was a familiar presence at the Apiculture fair booth, with honey and wax displays as well as frames of live bees at the Fremont County Fair since the early sixties. Arlie was recognized for his contributions with numerous awards and honors. He had the distinction of serving as the Fremont County Fair and Rodeo Marshal in 2021 and was the Fair Volunteer of the Year in 2017. Arlie took great pride in sharing his passion for agriculture, often educating students during Ag in the Classroom programs at local elementary schools.
Arlie was a devoted member of St. Margaret’s Catholic Church in Riverton and an active participant in the Knights of Columbus. He took great solace in the ritual of faith and the community he found there.
He was married twice, first to Collene (Nitz) Colva, with whom he had his two daughters, Angela and Christina. He later went on to marry Rita Caproni Colva.
Arlie is survived by his brother, James Colva of Casper; his daughter, Christina Colva and grandson, Alex Colva of Riverton; daughter, Angela Colva, her spouse Chris Herzog, grandchildren, Sierra and Vaughn Colva, and great grandson Bryson Carlo of New Jersey; brother-in-law, Tom and wife Susan Vaughn; niece, Natalie Filla Hawk; nephews, Roscoe and Barney Filla and Joe Vaughn, as well as many loved cousins and second cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Glen and Martha Colva, and his sisters, Charla Mae and husband Kayo Filla and Nancy Kay Vaughn; and great nephew, Tobias Hawk.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at Davis Funeral Home, with the inurnment of ashes to follow at the family plot in Mountain View Cemetery in Riverton. A viewing will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 6, 2025 at Davis Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Paws for Life Animal League in care of Davis Funeral Home, 2203 W. Main Street, Riverton, WY 82501.
Online condolences for Arlie’s family may be shared at TheDavisFuneralHome.com.
Services are under the direction of Davis Funeral Home and Crematory.
Davis Funeral Home, 2203 W. Main Street, Riverton, Wyoming 82501, (307) 856-3217
TheDavisFuneralHome.com