Eva Louise “Weesie” Polley, was born on March 6, 1929 to Ernest and Mattie Lee (Willis) Polley. After a brief illness, she passed away on Monday, July 6, 2020, at age 91. She is preceded in death by both parents, and one brother, Walter V. Polley.
During her early years she was a sixth-grade member of one of the first Girl Scout troops organized in Franklin during the 1940-41 school year. In the early 1950’s Weesie became the seventh grade troop leader, and in 1954 her troop received a blue ribbon for their entry into the Warren County Youth Fair with their project of a relief map of the recently purchased Camp Stonybrook located near Waynesville, OH. Throughout the years she also served as a counselor at day camps, a resident camp counselor at Camp Stonybrook in Waynesville, OH, and at Camp Molly Lauman in Portsmouth, OH; ushered at a national convention; and attended the International Girl Scout Roundup in 1959 with 1500 adults and 8500 girls in Colorado Springs, CO. She remained a member of Trefoil Troop 5, a troop of adults who worked in scouting in the ‘30s, ‘40s, and ‘50s. She still cherishes her scout leader’s uniform from the 1940’s, a handbook and a song book.
Weesie was a 1949 graduate of Franklin High School, and received her bachelor’s degree in education from Miami University in 1972. She spent a career teaching special needs students at Hopewell School in Franklin, OH and Greenknoll School in Lebanon, OH. She retired in 1991 after dedicating 30 years to the profession.
In 2014 Weesie authored a book entitled “African American Life in Franklin, Ohio”. All proceeds have benefitted the Franklin Historical Society and the Food Pantry. In 2015 she received the Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce’s Eldridge award for Historic Preservation for this book. This was her second time being recognized by the chamber, after being named Citizen of the year in 1969.
She was a faithful and active member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church, Franklin, OH, where she served in the Second Time Shop, spearheaded a large family Christmas project, and other. She also volunteered at the Food Pantry, a part of Franklin Area Community Services. She also prepared nut butters, breads and other treats to sell at the Franklin Farmer’s Market, where she loved to sit and visit with friends and shoppers from near and far.
Weesie loved to travel, cook, read, write, work crossword puzzles, and listen to classical music and The Gaithers. She also participated in Franklin’s Quasi-sesquicentennial Pageant. She will be remembered for her eloquent recitals of Latin poetry, Shakespeare, and more, and most of all for her historical and witty stories about any and everything.
Left to mourn her passing are her cousins Cheryl Polley, Elizabeth Polley, Joseph Polley (Brenda), Tim Polley (Jan), Marlene Johnson, Kenneth Roberts, Jeffrey Roberts (Michelle), Edward Roberts, Aaron Roberts, and a host of other family members and special friends.
The family would like to acknowledge all cards, flowers, acts of kindness and words of consolation given during the passing of our beloved ‘Weesie’. We loved her dearly as did many of you, and we will miss her greatly. Words cannot begin to express how appreciative we are of your love towards us, but all will be personally acknowledged at a later date.
We would like to give a special thank you to the Bindley, Danforth and Snyder families; Juanita Hoffman; the staff at Kettering Medical Center and Hospice Care of Middletown; and Emerald Edge neighbors and staff.
Private services will be held by the family, and entrusted to the Anderson Funeral Home, 1357 E. Second Street, Franklin, OH 45005.
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