Mrs. W. A. Hoffarth, 53 years old, of Springfield, died Tuesday night.  Last week she underwent a major operation for gallstones and was apparently recovering from the operation when she developed a series of heart attacks which proved fatal.

Funeral services will be conducted at First Baptist Church here Friday morning at 10:30, with the Rev. E. F. Maness of Mansfield officiating.  Interment will be at Fowler.

Polly Polk was born July 28, 1890 on a farm at Pease' Mill, near Conway, Missouri, and died at Springfield Missouri, January 18, 1944, age 53 years, 5 months and 20 days.

She attended school at Conway and at S.T.C. in Springfield and taught school for eight years.

She was married to Willis Arthur Hoffarth on May 4, 1913, who survives her together with their three daughters, Lucile L. Hoffarth of Chattanooga, Tennessee; Mrs. Fertina L. Roderique and Mrs. Dorothy J. Gomez, both of Springfield.  She is also survived by one brother, Sanford Polk of Imogene, Iowa, and one granddaughter, Carolyn Ann Roderique.

She joined the Baptist church as a child and was a faithful church member all her life.  During the 20s and early 30s the Hoffarths were in the mercantile business in Mountain Grove.  It was during the years that the First Baptist Church was planning and putting on its building campaign.  Mrs. Hoffarth was president of what the Baptist ladies called the Auxiliary.  It was through her brilliant leadership that the Auxiliary raised and contributed to the building fund no less than $3,000.

After leaving Mountain Grove, Mr. and Mrs. Hoffarth kept a boarding house for students at the University in Columbia, Missouri, for a few years, before finally moving to Springfield.  There are many of those boys in service today who formerly boarded with Hoffarths in Columbia, who affectionately refer to them as "Mom and Dad."  Letters from them come from the fighting fronts all over the world, letters of appreciation for the love, guidance and help that they received when in Columbia.  

From the Mountain Grove Journal
Posted by: Phyllis Rippee