Pauline "Polly" (Rustin) Knepley

On Thursday, December 5, 2019, Pauline “Polly” Knepley, 96, Kokomo, passed away to join Jesus Christ her savior. She passed at Community Howard Regional Hospital in Kokomo.  She was born January 25, 1923, in Butler, Georgia, the eldest daughter of Moley and Lonie Rustin.  On February 19, 1943, she married Bob Knepley in Washington D.C. They were married for 35 years before his death in 1978.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Wayne Rustin; and a sister, Francis Adams, both of Butler, Georgia.

Polly was a 1939 graduate of Butler High School in Butler, Georgia.  She continued to study at Georgia Southwestern College and the University of Maryland.  She was a dedicated kindergarten and first-grade teacher in Prince George County Maryland for 17 years. Later, she owned and operated a pre-school creative play center for six years before moving to Kokomo in 1978.

She was a member of Shiloh United Methodist Church.  She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Eagles Auxiliary, NEA, a 50+ year and charter member of Order of the Eastern Star. Polly was a former member of the Lady Lions and Southern Maryland Quarter Horse Association.  She loved her family and was a devoted grandmother to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  She enjoyed collecting cookbooks, playing bingo, reading and growing cotton and peanuts in patio pots.

Survivors include her devoted and significant other, Vincent “Woody” Woodward; son, Buddy (Dottie) Knepley, of Russiaville; grandchildren, Sean Knepley, of Kokomo, Kelly (Amy) Knepley, of Michigan, and Shannon Knepley, of Russiaville; great-grandchildren, Samantha and Conner Knepley, Erin Deckard, and Tyler and Mitchell Knepley; devoted nephew, Joe Adams; nephew, Rusty Adams; and niece, Barbara Adkins.  Also surviving are Jill Eads Moss, of Kokomo, Jack Woodward, of Michigan:  Tom, Marcie and Jennifer Eads, Stephen and Sarah Woodward, and Alan, Lindsay, Sarah, Kim and Sam Stewart.

Funeral services will be held at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, December 11, 2019, at Stout & Son Funeral Home, 200 E. Main St., Russiaville, with Pastor Michael Goodspeed officiating.  Friends are invited to visit with the family from 3 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home.  Contributions may be made in Polly’s memory to the Kokomo Humane Society or Bona Vista.  Messages of condolence may be left online at www.stoutandson.com.

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