Pauline J. Nicholson

Nicholson, Pauline J., retired secretary for Catholic Charities Foster Grandparent Program, passed away Friday, November 9, 2007. Visitation with the family, 6:00-8:00 P.M., Sunday, November 11; Service, 10:00 A.M., Monday, November 12, both at Downing Lahey Mortuary West Chapel, 10515 W. Maple in Wichita. Pauline Joyce Ponath was born in Mulvane, KS, the daughter of Methodist minister August Herman Ponath and Daisy Ellen (Hatfield) Ponath. Pauline attended Mulvane schools, and in May of 1938 she graduated from Southwestern College in Winfield with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Following graduation, she began teaching Latin and English at Maize High School. During this time she met Paul Nicholson of Maize, and the two were wed in November of 1939. They lived in McPherson, KS the first years of their marriage, and in 1944 they purchased their home in Maize, where Pauline resided for more than 60 years until her health began to fail in 2004. Paul succumbed to cancer in January of 1970. Pauline was also preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Kent (Ponath) Lee, Karl Ponath, and her sister Kathleen McDonald. She is survived by her children and their spouses, Elizabeth “Nicky” and Robert Baker of Cuba, MO, Hugh and Becky Nicholson of Goddard, and Stephan and Angelyn Nicholson of Lubbock, TX. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews, including her dear Margie, Ellen, and Anne, as well as her special friend, Maxine Coppel. Pauline was the church organist at Maize United Methodist Church for forty years. She was co-founder of Maize School PTA, and assisted with the establishment of the library system at Maize Vermillion School. She continued to enjoy her needlework, reading, playing the organ, and working crossword puzzles until the time of her death. Pauline is remembered as a gracious lady, a devoted wife, and a beloved and selfless mother who always insisted on putting the needs of her family before her own. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established with Catholic Charities Foster Grandparent Program, 437 N. Topeka, Wichita, KS 67202 and Kansas Humane Society, 4218 Southeast Blvd., Wichita, KS 67210. Visitation with the family, 6:00-8:00 P.M., Sunday, November 11, Downing Lahey Mortuary West