OTTAWA — Pauline Winifred (Rhoades) Davis, Overbrook, died Tuesday, June 1, 2021, at Rock Creek Long Term Care Facility, Ottawa.
She was born March 16, 1926, in Devon, the daughter of William Harold and Bertha (Killion) Rhoades.
She grew up in the Fort Scott and Richmond areas.
Pauline was united in marriage to Paul Robert Davis Aug. 18, 1946, at Mount Olivet Church, Williamsburg. They had 69 years of marriage before his death on Nov. 15, 2015.
Pauline and Paul lived for a short time at Wellsville and Williamsburg, where they farmed. In the 1960s, they moved with their four children southeast of Overbrook, where they had a large dairy they farmed. The family moved in 1967 to Muskogee, Okla., onto the Bacone College campus where Pauline and Paul were employed by Murrow Indian Children’s Home as foster parents. In the 1970s, Pauline and Paul moved back to Paul’s family farm at Williamsburg, where they raised livestock and farmed. They returned to Overbrook in 1987, where they retired. Pauline was extremely involved in the child foster care system, and she and Paul fostered many children. She was also a member of Grace Community Church of Overbrook.
Pauline was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Harold and Donald Rhoades; and a foster son, Malvin Dorsey.
Survivors include her four children, Janet Donnelly (Dennis), Overbrook, Roger Davis (Kim), Afton Grand Lake, Okla., Harold Davis (Karon), Basehor, and Paula Smith (Doug), Williamsburg; 12 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; her sister-in-law, Pauline Geiss, Ottawa; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held 10 a.m. Monday, June 7, at Grace Community Church, Overbrook, followed by a celebration of life service at 11 a.m. and interment at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Williamsburg, at 2:30 p.m.
The family requests no flowers. Memorial contributions may be made to Gideons International and sent in care of Feltner Funeral Home, 818 Topeka Ave., Lyndon, KS 66451.
Condolences for the family may be left at FeltnerFuneralHome.com.
