Lola Darlene Dryden

Lola Darlene Dryden, age 90, of Ottawa, Kansas, died Wednesday, June 14, 2023, at her home surrounded by her loving family.

Funeral services will be held 10:00 A.M., Thursday, June 22, 2023, at Dengel & Son Mortuary, Ottawa, Kansas.

Family will meet with friends 5:30 P.M. to 7:00 P.M., Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at the mortuary.

Interment will be 3:00 P.M., Thursday, June 22, 2023, at Fredonia Cemetery in Fredonia, Kansas.

She was born on Tuesday, May 2, 1933, in Fredonia, Kansas, the daughter of Carl A. and Lola I. (Upham) Woodruffe.

She grew up in Fredonia, Kansas and moved several times following her marriage, moving to Ottawa in 1960.

Darlene attended schools in Fredonia.

On Sunday, October 29, 1950, Darlene was united in marriage with John Edward Dryden at Fredonia, Kansas. He preceded her in death on October 17, 2007.

She worked as a receptionist at Ottawa RV from late 2007 until retiring in 2017. Earlier she worked as an assistant manager at ALCO in Ottawa and at JC Penney as a supervisor until a fire destroyed the store.

Darlene was a member of First Baptist Church in Ottawa, Kansas. She enjoyed cooking for their Wednesday evening “Chupper” events.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John; parents, Carl and Lola Woodruffe; sons, Michael Leroy Dryden and Carl Wayne Dryden; daughter, Brenda Jackson; brothers, C. Leroy Woodruffe and Jimmy D. Woodruffe; grandsons, Michael Dryden, Derick Dryden and Russel Geist; granddaughter, Jodi Jackson; great granddaughters, Sadye Circle, Jessica Guyett; and Addalyn Bentley.

Darlene is survived by her daughters, Teresa Dryden and her husband Eddy of Ottawa, Rhonda Thomas and her husband, Don of Paola, Kansas, Annette Bentley and her husband, Larry of Osage City, Kansas; sons, Steve Dryden and his wife, Karen and John Dryden, Jr and his wife, Cheryl, all of Ottawa; son-in-law, Terry Jackson of Ottawa; sisters, Connie Langley of Fredonia, Kansas and Betty Carlton and her husband, Tom of Houston, Texas; sister-in-law, Norma Jean Uitts of Independence, Kansas; eighteen grandchildren, several great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, along with many nieces and nephews.

The family suggests memorial contributions to First Baptist Church c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.