Vivian Juanita Poth

Dear friends and family, we have not gathered here to mourn or feel sorrowful, but to feel happy and joyful in celebration of the life of our departed Juanita Poth.

Juanita was born on September 5th, 1923 to Tom and Clara Knight in Childress, Texas, and departed this life on July 18, 2018 at the age of 94 - only 5 short weeks from turning 95.  She graduated from Estelline Texas High School in 1941 where she met her future husband, Charles Joseph Poth, Jr., who was a math teacher at Estelline High School.  They were separated for five years because of World War II and Mr. Poth had enlisted in the Marines.

Juanita attended Fleming Business College and learned to keep books in Amarillo, Texas. Because of the war, she then worked at the Pantex Bombing Plant in Amarillo where she helped make TNT bombs.  She later visited relatives in California and worked in a radio crystal factory in Santa Monica, California.

When Joseph returned from service from the Marine Corp., Juanita, upon invitation, came to Elgin, Texas, and worked at Camp Swift as a dental assistant.  Joseph and Juanita were married on May 1st, 1945 in Childress, Texas.

They later returned to Elgin, Texas, where Joseph worked on radios and televisions.  To this union were born two children, Charles Joseph Poth III (Joey) in 1946, and Gayle Starr (Poth) Marek in 1948.  Both were born in the Fleming Hospital in Elgin, Texas.  Joseph, in later life, taught school in the San Antonio area for 20 years and Juanita took care of the Poth Estate which included taking care of her father-in-law, Mr. Poth, Sr.

In her early life in Elgin, Juanita became a member of the First United Methodist Church, where she sang in the choir for 25 years.    She also served as a member of the New Century Club in Elgin for many years.  Juanita was a very joyful Red Hat Belle in the Red Hat Society of Elgin.  She was President on two different occasions for the American Legion Auxiliary and served as Den Mother for young boy scouts in Elgin, Texas.

Juanita worked part time for her father-in-law who owned and operated Poth Dry Goods for 54 years in Elgin, Texas.  She grew up on a farm and enjoyed riding horses bareback and climbing windmills.  Being an outdoor country girl, Juanita loved gardening, fishing, horses, and she was also quite the artist.  She loved to paint with oils and acrylics, as well as pastels. Many of her friends and family have paintings of hers to cherish. She also loved to write poetry and poems.

In 1963 Juanita moved her family to 704 North Main in Elgin to help take care of her father-in-law who had lost his wife.  They lived there 35 years after they lost Mr. Poth, Sr. in 1964.

When Juanita’s husband Joseph passed in 1998, she sold the house on Main Street and bought a small home in Elgin Meadows, where she loved all of her neighbors.  She briefly attended Yegua Evangelical Free Church with her daughter and son-in-law before they all joined New Life Baptist Fellowship in Elgin, under Pastor Jeff Wilson where she remained a member until her passing.  Her church family was a blessing and a consolation to her in her later years, and she was loved by her church family and friends.

Juanita lived in Elgin for 64 years and is now with her savior in Heaven.  She loved her Savior Jesus Christ who came first and foremost in her life….closely following was always her family and friends. She was cared for by Melba Speckels as she grew older, who became a wonderful friend, and her last two years were spent in the loving care of A Rainbow Ridge Elder Care Home, located in Elgin.  Such kindness and love are given each and every day to their clients and Juanita loved all of the staff.  They took excellent care of her and all their clients.  They made her passing so very peaceful, without any pain or discomfort.  Resolutions Hospice was called in during her last months and also made her last days peaceful and with a strong sense of love.  They both are just the very best.

Juanita is survived by her two children, Charles Joseph Poth III (Joey) of Hutto and Gayle Poth Marek and husband, Rodney of Elgin.  She is also survived by four grandchildren, Chad and Laurie Marek of Spring, Brandi and Thomas Greene of Norman, Oklahoma, Robyn and Matt Chancellor of Jarrell and Dr. Jinger R. Poth of Hutto.  Also surviving are three great-grandchildren, Elise and Noelle Marek and Lily Chancellor, as well as two nephews Charles McCaskill of Kerrville and Robert Allen McCaskill of Belvedere, California.

Serving as Pall Bearers will be Chad Marek, Chuck Fromme, Thomas Greene, James Marx, Matt Chancellor, and Talley Muery.

A Visitation is to be held on Tuesday, July 24th from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm at Providence-Jones Family Funeral Home on Hwy. 95 North with the funeral Wednesday, July 25th at 10:00 am, also at Providence-Jones.  Interment will be in the Elgin Texas Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to either Rainbow Ridge Elder Care in Elgin, Texas, at 111 Hogeye Road, Elgin, Texas, 78621 (Ph 512-789-0543) or The New Life Baptist Fellowship Church, PO Box 838 or 175 Hwy. 95, Elgin, Texas, 78621, (Ph 512 799-9677), in memory of Juanita Poth.