F. Pauline Calkins, 94, of Tama, passed away Monday, November 14, 2016 at Westbrook Acres Care Center in Gladbrook under the care of Iowa River Hospice. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, November 19, 2016 at 2:00 PM at the Reformed Baptist Church in Tama with Pastor Paul Rendall officiating. Interment will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Tama. Visitation will be held Friday, November 18, 2016 from 5-7:30 PM at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama.


Florence was born on November 16, 1921, in Burlington, KS, the daughter of Clyde Wallis and Frances E. (Gilbert) Ritchey.
She graduated from high school in Burlington, KS and taught school in Kansas. Later, she moved to Los Angeles to attend seminary, graduating from Four Square Gospel Seminary and while there met her husband, Arthur. Following their graduation, Pauline and Arthur were both ordained ministers. They were united in marriage on October 16, 1948, in Los Angeles. Eventually they came to Iowa to serve at the White Oak Church.
Florence was a homemaker and route manager for the Marshalltown Times Republican Newspaper for Tama. After her husband passed away, she worked as a caretaker for the elderly. She was the past President and Poppy chairperson for the American Legion Auxiliary for many years. Pauline was an active member of Reformed Baptist Church in Tama and a former member of the Tama Garden Club and the Rebekah Lodge. She was known for her flower garden and also planted flowers by the Tama welcome sign for several years.
Survivors include four children, Sam (Carol) Calkins of Bremerton, WA, Chris (Corleen) Calkins of Marshalltown, Paul (Cathy) Calkins of Dillon, and Darla (Robert) Smith of Mooresville, WI; eleven grandchildren; nineteen great-grandchildren; two sisters, Eleanor Calkins of Escondido, CA, and Mildred Bowman of Hesperia, CA; and several nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Arthur in 1993; one granddaughter, Stacey Calkins; and two brothers, Laurence and Francis Ritchey.
A memorial fund has been established.