Norene Popplewell

Norene Miller Popplewell, only child of Audra Gandy Dildy and Benjamin L Dildy passed on February 19, 2015. She was 93.

Norene was born in the small sawmill town of Gandy, La which was named after her grandfather, Rufus Gandy. She attended schools in Sabine Parish, graduating from Florien High School. Norene attended Dodd College, a private junior college for women, in Shreveport, LA. She went on to graduate from Louisiana State Normal School (now known as Northwestern State University). Normal is located in Natchitoches, (Nack-a-tish), Louisiana (Lou-z-ana) made famous by the movie Steel Magnolias.

Norene's first teaching job after graduation was Pleasant Hill High School. It also happened to be the first teaching job of J.D. Miller after graduating LSU. Norene taught Commerce and J.D. taught Agriculture. The year was 1941. The start of school had been pushed back until October due to military training. J.D. started proposing marriage three weeks after they met. Norene turned him down until Dec. 7, 1941. That day changed the world and the course of their lives. Norene accepted. They were married at the end of the school year, May 1942, in her Aunt Bertha's backyard in Mooringsport, LA.

J.D. enlisted in the Air Force. Norene followed J.D to each base assignment, renting a room and finding a job to cover her expenses. Their first child, Lawrence W. Miller, was born in Florida while J.D. was stationed at Boca Raton AFB. Their second child, Gary G. Miller, was born between wars in a civilian hospital back home in Louisiana. Gary passed in 2014. Their only daughter, Sana N. Miller, was born in Topeka while stationed at Forbes Field AFB. Topeka was the end of their military career and the home they would know for the rest of their lives.

J.D. and Norene both received their Masters in Education from Emporia State Teacher's College and accepted teaching positions in Pauline, working for the Auburn Washburn Rural School District. J.D. had recently been promoted to principal of Auburn High School when he passed suddenly at the end of that school year May 1966.

Norene retired after 20 years of teaching at age 60. In retirement she learned to shuffle cards just so she could join a bridge club. She continued traveling in the U.S. and overseas into her 80's. She was a member of several clubs and organizations, and was a charter member of the Travelers Club. She married Thomas 'Jack' Popplewell in 1994 after a four year courtship. Jack passed in 1997. In 2009, Norene moved to the McCrite Retirement Center and was a charter member of the 3rd Floor Koffee Klatch. Norene was a past member of the Otterbein United Methodist Church and a current member of the First Presbyterian Church.

Norene is survived by two children: Larry Miller (Catherine), Sana Lentz (Ron), five grandchildren: Tamra McMenamin (Matt), Kellie Dewveall (Dwight), Bryce Miller (Sara), Misty Beall, Stephanie Beall, and four great grandsons: Gannon, Logan, Leo and Edward.

Donations can be made in Norene's name to the First Presbyterian Church, Topeka, the American Heart Association or Louisiana State University.

Visitation with refreshments will be held at noon, Wednesday, Feb. 25 at the Mount Hope Chapel, Topeka, KS. A funeral service will follow at 1:00pm. Burial will also be at Mount Hope Cemetery.