Grace Bollman

Grace Elizabeth Bollman, 100, died Wednesday morning, February 25, 2009 at Quaker Hill Nursing Center, Lowell, Kansas. She was born Grace Elizabeth Tilton, March 11, 1908 to Robert Shelby Tilton and Ona Gravette Lowe Tilton in rural Kiowa County, Oklahoma near Roosevelt. She rode in a covered wagon in her mothers arms when the family moved to Westville, Oklahoma. The family moved to rural Edna, Kansas in 1913. Grace attended school at Parkville and graduated from Edna High School on May 13, 1927. She completed training at Auxiliary Normal School of Pittsburg, Kansas now Pitt State. Grace taught at Ripon School. She married Raymond William Bollman, April 17, 1929 at Oswego, Kansas. The couple made their home in rural Valeda, Kansas where they hauled milk, farmed and started building their purebred Holstein herd. They moved to Edna in 1942 and continued the Holstein operation until 1955 when they held a nationally attended dispersal sale, due to Raymonds health. The Bollmans continued farming until 1968, when Raymonds health forced retirement. Raymond preceded his wife in death, January 17, 1972. She continued her greatest passions, quilting and gardening, along with church, cooking, social events and her grandchildren, until May of 2002 when declining eyesight curtailed her activities. Grace moved to Joplin, Missouri to live with her son and his wife until her health necessitated her move to Infinia Nursing Home at Oswego, September 2004. She moved to Quaker Hill Nursing Facility at Lowell, Kansas in June of 2007. She is survived by her son, Larry Bollman and his wife, Maxine; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Grace was preceded in death by her parents; by five brothers and two sisters. Funeral services will be held 10AM, Friday, February 27, 2009 at Elm Christian Church, east of Edna, Kansas. Interment will follow in North Edna Cemetery, under the direction of Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel, Coffeyville. Visitation is today until 8PM at the funeral home and family will be on hand to receive guests from 6-8 PM.