Nora B. Wadkins

Nora Belle Wadkins was born on Saturday, June 12, 1920, in Ottawa, Kansas. She was the daughter of Samuel and Sarah Miranda (Cleaveland) Brown. Nora grew up in Ottawa and Quenemo. She moved to Aurora, Nebraska in 1977. In 1984, she retired to Russell, Kansas with Lucky and Karen, where she made her home until her death on Monday, May 26, 2008, at the age of eighty-seven years. Nora attended school in Quenemo. She worked for Ottawa Tent and Awning Co. for one year until World War II ended. She then worked as a bookkeeper for several companies including F. W. Woolworth Company in Ottawa, Kansas, fourteen years; J. C. Penney in Ottawa, Kansas, eighteen years; Gamble's in Aurora, Nebraska, five years; and Wheeler's in Aurora, Nebraska, two years. She was a member of Brethren Church in Ottawa, Kansas. She transferred her membership to First Christian Church in Aurora, Nebraska, and attended Methodist Church while living in Russell, Kansas. Nora was a loving mother and grandmother who was constantly doing something with her family. She was an avid reader of romance novels and loved playing cards with her family and friends and working puzzle books. In September of 1939, Nora was united in marriage with Willis Eugene Wadkins. They were later divorced. Nora is survived by two daughters, Judith C. Fritts and her husband, Richard, of Ottawa, Kansas, Karen Seyler and her husband, Lucky, of Russell, Kansas; ten grandchildren; twenty-two great-grandchildren; two great great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, George Toumberlin; and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, James Brown, Harold Brown, Ernest Brown; sister, Dorothy Toumberlin; and three great-grandchildren. SERVICES: Funeral services will be held from the Dengel & Son Mortuary at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 30, 2008. IN STATE: Friends may pay their respects to Mrs. Wadkins at the Dengel & Son Mortuary after 5:00 p.m. Wednesday to the service hour, where the family will meet with friends from 7:00 to 8:00 Thursday evening. CEMETERY: Mt. Hope Cemetery in Williamsburg, Kansas. MEMORIALS: The family suggests memorial contributions to Wheatland Nursing Center or Southwind Hospice, c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.