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Bertha Rhoades
b.11 Apr 1878
d.8 Feb 1966
Facts and Events
References
- ↑ Obituary - ADVANCE NEWSPAPER, Wednesday, February 16, 1966
RITES HELD HERE FRIDAY FOR "MISS BERTHA" WILLIAMS
(PICTURE)
Last rites for Mrs. Bertha Williams were held Friday afternoon at the Methodist Church, with the Rev. Lloyd V. Snodgrass and the Rev. Frank Heitman officiating. Burial was in Morgan Memorial Park with Morgan Funeral Service in charge.
Mrs. Williams passed away Wednesday, Feb. 9th at a Cape Girardeau hospital following a brief illness. Pall bearers, all nephews were Paul Ward of Wichita, Kan. Gene Rhodes, of Cape Girardeau; Bill Rhodes, Kenneth Rhodes, Rodney Rhodes and Mac Dalton of Advance. The passing of Mrs. Williams brought to a close a long and colorful life. She was born April 11, 1878 in Stoddard County, the daughter of a Methodist circuit rider.
She attended grade school in Stoddard County and furthered her education at State College, Cape Girardeau, Missouri University at Columbia, Manhattan College, Manhattan, Kan. and received a B.S. Degree in education at the State Teachers College, Ada, Okla.
She was married in 1901 to J. W. Williams, who preceded her in death. A native of the Advance community, "Miss Bertha" taught in the Advance School system in the early 1920's. She later taught in other Missouri schools and in Kansas and Oklahoma.
She spent 45 of her 87 years in the school room and had much experience guiding the education of Indian children during the 20 years she spent in Oklahoma.
She retired in 1950 at the age of 72 and returned to Advance, bought a home, and has lived here, maintaining her home alone since that time.
Mrs. Williams was foster mother to two nieces and a nephew, children of a deceased brother-in-law, and sister, Mr and Mrs. T. F. Duggar. The children all surviving are Mrs. Joseph Rhodes (Sina Duggar) of New York City, Mrs. John Rhea (Norma Duggar) Phoenix, Ariz. and Albert Duggar, of Chaffee.
In her memoirs, written at the age of 82, Mrs. Williams wrote: "The years after 70 are not for work, but for memory and retrospection. And when a woman passes 80, she can relax and enjoy herself without feeling she is a deserter in a busy world. "At 82, I now enjoy more real happiness than ever before. Life is cumulative and the longer one lives the more they have to draw from." "At 82, shadows dim life a little sometimes, but shadows make things more beautiful." And then her sense of humor breaks through, when she writes: "I wear glasses because the printing theses days is wretched and the electric lights are not so good." And, "I can't hear so well, but that is because people do not speak plainly."
Mrs. Williams was a member of the Advance Methodist Church, the Women's Society of Christian Service, the Royal Workers Sunday School class (where she often served as teacher) the Order of Eastern Star and the Past Matron's Club.
Her motto for living was: "Have something to look forward to and keep the mind young by constant study."
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