Pauline B. Wilkinson

Burial at Mt. Zion Cemetery in rural Adams County.
Pauline (Polly) Berniece Sanford was born on June 10, 1918, in Emporia, Kansas, to Herman and Luellen Dunn Sanford, and went to be with her Lord on May 18, 2008, at the age of 89 years. She married Orville Francis Wilkinson on November 11, 1935. She was the middle one of five siblings (all girls). They were a very close family and stayed in touch throughout the years - spending lots of time in each others homes, visiting and laughing and just enjoying being together.
Pauline was a young bride of 17, married happily for 68 years. Orville and Pauline were always a two-some, sharing same interests and activities and working together and playing together, setting a wonderful example for their children and grandchildren. They lived first in Page County and then south of Nodaway until 1943 when they moved to their farm at Prescott, where they lived until Pauline had her stroke in 1998. They were blessed with 3 children: LaRell, Darwin, and Sandra. Pauline and Orville loved to go to the dances especially at Williamson. Their children remember many times while they were growing up just being at the dances. This interest in dancing continued over the years - even when they went to Arizona they attended dances sometimes as many as 5 times a week.
Pauline was a true homemaker raising a large garden annually for many years consisting of cucumbers and tomatoes along with other favorite vegetables. Her homemade pickles of many varieties shared with family at her holiday gatherings served on large relish trays were consumed in great quantities and much enjoyed. Pauline told of making her own patterns and cutting up old clothes of her own to sew and construct garments for first LaRell and then Darwin and Sandy. She continued to sew for her children and after they left home spent many hours piecing and sewing together quilts of many colors and designs.
The children married and the new spouses were welcomed into the family and always welcomed for a meal. Pauline and Orville were leaders in 4H as their children were involved. The children all grew up learning to ride horses and riding was a favorite activity when friends and relatives visited. After the death of Paulines mother, Luellen, Pauline and her family especially enjoyed vacations taken to Kansas to visit her father and her step mother, Dorothy. Pauline and Orville were very active in NFO in the 60s attending meetings and conventions and signing up new members. They loved traveling and going to the various country music shows around this area and spending overnights in the mini home. Only after health issues did they give up the traveling long distances but continued attending many different country music jams and taking with them their western jewelry wares they spent many hours making. Grandma was very creative in her designs and color choices.
Pauline entertained endlessly and tirelessly for the family many holiday dinners with wonderful meals for all to attend and celebrate with great memories to be remembered by children and grandchildren. Pauline was a great hostess and made you very comfortable with her delicious, home made meals. She never ordered out for pizza or Chinese etc. She always had enough for extra guests making you feel welcome. She had many nieces and nephews come and spend time with them and as they were older - visiting into the wee hours of the morning.
Paulines gift was enjoying people and making them feel special and loved. Pauline continued to be a people person even after she was confined to the nursing home! She sat at her table so she could see the door and anyone who came in she might know she loved to visit with and reminisce! She made friends with everyone at the nursing home. She could always strike up a conversation with the residents and staff. She was always very interested in other people and their lives and if they were someone from her past she tremendously enjoyed being reunited! Pauline was always alert and had a good memory for the past and delighted in reminiscing about family and friends. She made many new friendships over the last 9 1/2 years with the current residents and the staff of whom many have enjoyed and loved her with their TLC and friendship. She will be greatly missed by so many whose lives she touched over her almost 90 years! She gave of herself, her time, her love, never met a stranger, and she was a gifted, talented, loving wife, mother and grandmother. She was a real trooper, not complaining of her plight of being wheelchair bound and dependent on others for her personal needs. She persevered until recently when her health really started failing and she was tiring and ready to go to be in Heaven with those who had gone before her.
Pauline is survived by her son, LaRell (wife Coleen) Wilkinson of Lenox; daughter-in-law, Shirley Wilkinson of Prescott; son-in-law Daryl Rechtenbach of Bridgewater; step sisters: Arlene Durham and Pat Harris; 8 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; 2 step great-grandchildren; 5 great-great-grandchildren and 2 step great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents Herman and Luellen Sandford; a loving husband, Orville (Pistol) Wilkinson; a son, Darwin Wilkinson; daughter, Sandra Rechtenbach; sisters: Francis Nash, LaVerne Kershner, Dorothy Everett, Violet Martin; infant grandson, LeRoy Rechtenbach; brothers- in- law: Elvin Nash, Blacky Kershner, James Everett and Lynzie Martin.