In Memory

Donna S Roadenbaugh (Smeltzer)



 
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02/03/11 04:51 PM #1    

Ella Lehl (Frederick)

How I loved Donna!  We became friends when she first moved into a little house on West Second Street, just across from Martinson Elementary.   I think we were fourth or fifth graders.  We both LOVED to read and spent many summer Saturday mornings taking the city bus downtown to the BIG main library.  She probably read five to my average of one book every couple of weeks.  We often rode bikes between our houses on summer days.  I always felt sorry for her because she did not wear shorts, only dresses, and could not go swimming because of not being allowed to wear swimsuits.  But, BOY, did we bond as friends.   She would often invite me to go to her little Baptist church with her on Wednesday nights.  I knew she had been one of eight children, the same as I, but EVERYONE at the church called her "Sister Donna."  I didn't know that they called everyone either "sister" or "brother."   As is often the case, we saw eachother less in high school, and lost touch completely after that.  I was shocked to see her obituary in The Eagle.  It was about 1974 or 1975 because I know both of my two older children were very little and that my Mama kept them so I could attend Donna's funeral.  She died of Hodgkin's disease.  I asked her brother Don why he hadn't called me and he said she didn't want me to know she was dying.  She left a husband (I'm sorry I can't remember her married name) and a precious little six-year-old daughter.  ( I know Debbie Peacock Brown knew her at Martinson also.) 


08/15/11 01:10 PM #2    

Nancy Steffen (Hendrich)

Donna S. Roadenbaugh (Smeltzer) - obituary ran in the Wichita newspaper on 07 Nov 1977 she may have passed away a day or two earlier...


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