PAULINE L. POLK DOWDEN

Following a 16 month illness,
Pauline L. Polk Dowden went home to her Lord and Savior Oct. 10, 2012, after devoting most of her time and energy for the past few years into caring for her invalid husband. Mrs. Polly was born Dec. 19, 1927, the first of two daughters born to Wayne
E. and Nina L. Starling Polk.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her son-in-law, David G. Hayley and her husband of more than 63 years, the Rev. William Roy Dowden, who passed into his new life just last month following a lengthy
illness. She is survived by their two daughters, Susan D. Dowden Hayley of Hornbeck, and Jane E. Dowden Ellis and her husband, the Rev. Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, President of California Baptist University, of Riverside, Calif. She is also survived by two
grandsons, Ashton Dowden Ellis, his wife Lauren Conner Ellis (of Lake Charles), their three children, Charles Henry, Teresa “Tess” Mary, and James Marion, all of California, and Erik-Zachary Dowden Ellis, his wife Rebecca West Ellis, and their
daughter, Elisabeth “Betty” Marie of Catoosa, Okla. She is also survived by her sister, Mrs. Dorothy M. Polk Way, of Houston, Texas, and many other relatives and friends.
Ms. Polly graduated from Bolton High School in Pineville, and
attended and graduated from Northwestern Normal College in Natchitoches, with degrees in English and art. Following the end of World War II, she met Roy on the NNC campus where she always said “he chased me until I caught him.” They were together for
over 66 years. Ms. Polly taught school in Ebarb and Mansfield, in Fort Worth, Texas, in West Monroe and Hornbeck, over a 33 year career. She received her Masters from Louisiana Tech in Ruston. Although Ms. Polly didn’t marry a minister, she
eventually had to admit to that God did know what he was doing when her Roy surrendered to the Lord’s call to pastor and preach.
A viewing will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 13 at the First Baptist Church of Hornbeck, with funeral
services to begin at 2 p.m. at the church. A graveside service will follow at the Toro Cemetery in the Plainview Community in Sabine Parish.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts be made to the Gideons International or to the
charity of your choice.
Online condolences can be made at warrenmeadows.com.