Elda May Pulaski

Elda May (Witt) Pulaski, 87, passed away on Wednesday, February 12, 2020 at her home in Wichita, KS. Elda May was born on December 16, 1932 to Herman & Effie (Munson) Witt. She graduated from Newton High School in 1950 and was married to Merle Pulaski Sr. on January 31, 1951. Subsequently, Merle was drafted into the Marines in late 1951, returning home in November 1953.

The couple purchased farm ground Southeast of Newton Kansas, and he and Elda May settled down and raised three children: Terri (Pulaski) Ryman, Merle Pulaski, Jr., and Pami (Pulaski) Strunk. They managed an egg ranch together, at times housing 40,000 chickens in three chicken barns. The ranch produced approximately 20,000 eggs per day, and the entire family worked either on the farm ground or in the egg room.

The couple divorced and Elda May moved to Wichita Kansas, where she took a job at a motel cleaning rooms. She subsequently found a better job driving as a courier for dental devices across Wichita. Her next job was as a hostess at a food kiosk at the Wichita International Airport; but, her favorite job was working for various Home Health Agencies (Always There Senior Care, and There’s No Place Like Home). She would visit the elderly in their homes, help clean, bathe, cook, and run errands for them. She really enjoyed the visits with her clients and was sad to have to retire in 2015.

Elda May Pulaski was preceded in death by both of her parents, her ex-husband Merle Sr., and her son Merle Pulaski Jr. Survivors include two daughters (Teresa/Terri Pulaski Ryman and Pami Pulaski Strunk), along with numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday February 18, 2020 with service following at 2:00 p.m. both at Hillside Funeral Home, 2929 W. 13th St. N., Wichita, Kansas, her son-in-law, Jerry Ryman, will officiate. Burial will follow at Walton Cemetery, Walton, Kansas.