Arlene Sodamann

Arlene Lucile Sodamann, age 92, of St. George, Kansas, formerly of Paola, Kansas, passed away August 2, 2015 at Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan, Kansas. Arlene was born September 26, 1922 in the Fontana Community. Her parents were Merrel and Mabel (Addy) Dalrymple. She was born at the home of her maternal grandparents on a farm which had been homesteaded by her great grandparents. She attended Fontana grade school and Osage Township High School, graduating in 1940. Her mother died when Arlene was 11 years old. At this time, she and her two brothers went to make their home with their grandparents, Anderson and Anna Addy. Their grandmother died four years later and their grandfather raised the children alone. During World War II, Arlene worked at Sunflower Ordinance Plant. At the ending of the war, she worked for Panhandle Eastern in their Kansas City office. She married her high school friend Harold Sodamann when he returned from the Pacific theater of the war. They became the parents of three sons. Harold was in school administration and they lived in Osawatomie, Parker, and Wellington, Kansas. From there, they moved to Hays, Kansas where he was professor of education. At this time, Arlene started college at age 44, earning her Bachelor of Science and Masters degrees. She taught in the Hays Unified School District, Great Bend District, and Paola Unified District, retiring as a remedial reading teacher of the primary grades in 1986. After this time, they lived in Paola area until age related problems made it necessary to move to where their sons were close by. She loved crocheting, knitting and quilting. She also enjoyed reading, cooking, and canning the summer produce. She especially enjoyed her family. Preceding her in death were her parents and two brothers Richard and Bob Dalrymple. Survivors include her husband Harold, their three sons David of Topeka, Mark and his wife Fran with whom they lived since 2007, and Paul and his wife Cindy of St. George, two grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to the Fontana Methodist Church and sent in care of Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home - Paola Chapel, 305 N. Pearl, Paola, KS, 66071. To share a memory of Arlene or leave a special condolence message for her family, please click the Share Memories button above. Fontana Cemetery, 383 St. and Osage, Fontana, KS Service: Graveside Services Friday, August 07, 2015 at 11:30 AM Visitation: No Visitation