Pauline Marie Alderfer Landis, age 96, passed away on January 8, 2019. Her children fondly remember her as a woman devoted to serving the Lord and her family.
Pauline was born on June 14, 1922 in Upland, CA. Her parents, Hiram R. Alderfer and Mary Rebecca Frymire Alderfer, managed a dairy and lemon grove with the help of their seven children, Emma Pearl, Arthur James, Dorcas Ruth, Pauline Marie, Owen Hiram, Elsie Mae, and Eldon Ray.
Pauline loved to travel and to sing, and her time with the Beulah College Ladies Quartet provided her with some of her fondest memories. She toured the country singing at churches all over the U.S. and was eventually introduced to her quartet partner’s brother, Paul Landis. Paul and Pauline married on June 27, 1958 and moved to Indianapolis, IN. The two were married nearly 60 years before Paul passed away last year.
Pauline’s years in Indiana were filled with raising two boys and faithfully serving at Hope Church. Their home was always full of delicious food and fresh flowers, and a spare bedroom was always available for any missionary who happened to be visiting town. Pauline taught hundreds of children about Jesus Christ for over 50 years as a Sunday School teacher. Her love for Christ and His children was also evident in her commitment to her Ladies Missionary Society prayer group and Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) 5-Day Clubs.
Pauline is survived by her sister, Elsie Alderfer Zook; her sons, Brian (Gina) and Keith (Lynn) Landis; her six granddaughters, Bethany (Aamod) Samuel, Melody Landis, Jesa Landis, Alissa (Clinton) Brooks, Kayla Hope (Sterling) Banaay, and Carissa (Mekiah) Moore; and two great-grandsons, Levi and Silas Samuel. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, January 21, 2019 at Hoosier Village Chapel, 5385 Soapberry Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46268, with Chaplain Ron May officiating. Friends are welcome to attend a viewing at 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. with an intermission prior to the funeral service. In lieu of flowers, the family desires that donations be made to CEF of Indiana Inc, Central Indiana Chapter, PO Box 625, Westfield, IN 46074 (cefcentralindiana.com/donate).
Donna Kruse says
Pauline has been such a joy to get to know. As a St. Vincent hospice volunteer, I visited her every Wednesday. We would study the birds – either at her window or in the nursing home glass house, we would do puzzles, sometimes we sang. I would read to her, or many days we would just talk. She was always concerned about the well-being of everyone else. If the lady next to her during the Christmas sing-along did not have a song book, she would give up her book. She welcomed the new lady across the hall and told her that Hoosier Village was a nice place to live. She insisted I stay for lunch one day – she said “it is lunch time and you need to eat.” We ate in the nice dining room and had a wonderful time. I felt like I had known Pauline for years. She always talked about her ‘sit and stretch’ class and wanted me to come see what it was all about. so one day, at 11:00AM – I surprised her and went to sit and stretch in “the big room” . Pauline was the most energetic one in the class! She always wanted to show me the decorrations for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas in “the big room” . She LOVED her family and talked about Keith and Brian and their families all the time. she talked so lovingly of her husband Paul. both of our husbands were named Paul and she got a big kick out of that. She told me about her great grandson and her newest grandson that was just born within the last weeks. She also told me about Jesa’s big test and was praying for good results.Pauline was a true lady -very polite and polished. she would “walk” me to her apartment door and we would say our goodbyes.
I was very fortunate to visit with Pauline on the last day of her life. The Hospice Coordinator called me to tell me of her impending death. I went to see her within an hour of that call. Pauline said hello and asked me why I was there? “ It is Tuesday, why are you here?” I was able to sit with her while she ate her lunch, sing Amazing Grace to her and read form her bible. She knew she was dying,but she was at peace. She was calm. She told me she would get to see her parents, siblings and Paul. I did not want to leave Pauling that day. I told her I was blessed to get to know her and that I loved her. I kissed her she kisssed me and we said goodbye for the last time.
I am truly blessed to have gotten to know Pauline Landis. She is a lady of God. ~~ Donna Kruse, St. Vincent Hospice Volunteer