Louise Poland

Louise was born on the family farm in Austin, Colorado (between Delta and Cedaredge). Her parents were Ison and Tensie Williamson and she had 3 big brothers - Howard, Wendell, and Adrian. She attended Fairview School and graduated from Delta High School in 1940. She would have graduated in 1939, but a very serious staph infection, before penicillin, caused her to miss out on most of a year of school. One of the chores she had was taking care of the turkeys - the proceeds of which helped finance her college education. She attended Mesa College where she met her future husband, C. Dwight Poland. She continued her education at Colorado Teachers College in Greeley (now University of Northern Colorado) where she worked at the Bru-Inn soda fountain and received her lifetime teaching certificate.

Louise began her teaching career in Delta. After World War II she and Dwight were married on June 16, 1946. She taught elementary grades for a few years in Grand Junction. Dwight and Louise built their home on the Redlands, planted a peach orchard, and started a family - Linda, Carla, and Charles. After the children were older Louise returned to teaching, spending the last years of her career at Pomona teaching 2nd grade and making many lasting friendships.

She and Dwight enjoyed trips to Spain, Denmark, and the Holy Land, an Alaskan cruise, and traveling in their motorhome until his death in 2001. Louise continued to be an active member of First Baptist Church and in several smaller groups in Grand Junction. Besides her family, her favorite things to do were helping people, Bible study, music, reading, growing things, travel, and baking.

Louise is survived by Linda White (Bill), Carla Fahrney (Terry), Chuck Poland (Lisa), and by grandchildren and great-grandchildren Andy White (Monica, Reece and Ison); Holly Barnum (Brent, Anna and Keely); Hannah Mallory (Lee, Roman and Malachi); Tarah Salway (JJ, Leo and Athena); Jeremy Poland; and Michael Poland. She is also survived by unofficially adopted daughter Lynn Bryant.

The family wishes to thank home care givers Cathy, Lynn, and Toria and assisted living care givers Kelly, Shannon, Gilbert, Sheila, Mystica, Savannah, Ashley, Rhonda, and Taitlynn. Louise loved them all and thought of them as part of her family.

Services will be on Friday, April 11 at 2:00 at First Baptist Church, 720 Grand Avenue.