Orpha F. Potter

Orpha F. Potter, 95, of Ottawa, passed away Wednesday, June 9, 2021, at Rock Creek of Ottawa. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M., Tuesday, June 15, 2021, at Dengel & Son Mortuary, Ottawa. Interment Highland Cemetery, Ottawa. Orpha was born May 2, 1926, at Ottawa, Kansas, the daughter of Harold J. and Ruby (Tedrow) Hoover. She was a lifelong Ottawa resident and graduated from Ottawa High School with the class of 1944. Orpha was united in marriage to Ray W. Potter May 12, 1946, at Ottawa. They were happily married 67 years and had two sons, David and Randy. Orpha was a devoted lifelong homemaker. She also drove a school bus for USD 290 for 25 years in the mid-1960’s to late 1980’s. Women were needed to fill positions in factories during World War II, so Orpha became “Rosie the Riveter." While still in high school, she was employed at Warner Production in Ottawa as a production worker and lathe operator making Jeep axels. She was a charter member and faithfully attended Calvary Baptist Church in Ottawa. Orpha loved driving the school bus, liked going to the zoo, and always looked forward to spending time with her family. She was preceded in death by her husband Ray Potter; son David Potter; parents, Harold and Ruby Hoover; three brothers, Harold “Jr” Hoover, Donald Hoover, and Lynn Hoover; and three sisters, Oneita Hornbuckle, Carol Paul, and Barbara Oyer. Survivors include a son Randy (Carla) Potter of Topeka; and five grandchildren, Heather Moore, Corey Moore, Ryan Moore, Travis Potter all of Ottawa, and Jeremy (Valerie) Greeve of Mobile, Alabama; and five great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorial contributions to Calvary Baptist Church c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.