Fondanell Edwards

1922 - 2011

Richard "Fondanell" Smith, 89, of Bartlesville was born August 4, 1922 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma to Franklin Richard and Susan Ella Land (Bowden) Smith. She passed away September 22, 2011 at Jane Phillips Medical Center.
Fondanell attended school in Bartlesville through the second grade and moved to Pampa, Texas in 1930. She graduated from Pampa High School and continued her education, graduating from the Fleming Business College in Amarillo, Texas.
After graduation, she worked many different companies. She was employed with the Consumer Cooperative Associates, Amarillo Credit Association and Better Business Bureau, Upshaw Insurance Agency and was treasurer and secretary for Upshaw Investment Corporation. She was a member of President of Insurance Women of Amarillo, Board of Directors of Insurance Women of Texas and Editor of the Newspaper for Junior Business Women of Amarillo. Also was a charter member of the South Lawn Baptist Church of Amarillo.
She married Guy Mattox Edwards on June 3, 1944 in Amarillo, Texas. They moved to Overland Park, Kansas in 1955 due to Guy being instrumental in setting up the Phillips Credit Card Office in Kansas City.
While living in Overland Park, Fondanell was employed at Kahn and Kaufman Accounting Firm. She was a member of Nall Avenue Baptist Church and served as financial secretary, secretary, Sunday school teacher and various offices in the Women's Missionary Union. She was also a member of the Kansas City Women's Athletic Club.
Fondanell and Guy relocated to Bartlesville when the Credit Card Office was moved to Bartlesville in 1970. She worked for the First Baptist Church for 16 years as financial secretary until retirement in 1990. Since her retirement, she has traveled to various places, including two trips to Egypt and the Holy Land, along with several trips to Germany and Canada.
Church was a very important part of her life. She was active on the History Committee that published the 100 years of history for the First Baptist Church, Oak Park Steering Committee, secretary and treasurer of Young at Heart, and held various offices in the Night Women's Missionary Society and volunteer for the Family Life Center. She was appointed by the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention as a volunteer with most work being done in the Bartlesville area.
While residing in Bartlesville she acted as hostess and guide for the Frank Phillips Mansion. She was a member of the Washington County Historical Society, Washington county Cherokee Association and Bartlesville Indian Women's Club (serving as auditor, historian, delegate to Bartlesville Women's Club, Inc. and treasurer of the Women's Club). She served as a volunteer for the Voice of the Martyrs and Washington County Museum.
Fondanelle is survived by her daughter, Susan Guynell Oppy and husband, Richard of Bartlesville; son, Richard Mattox Edwards of Nashville, Tennessee; grandsons, Wesley Mattox Oppy and wife, Jennifer of Lutz, Florida, Mitchell Franklin Oppy and wife, Dion of Bartlesville, Zachary Aaron Mattox Edwards of Gallatin, Tennessee; great grandchildren, Peyton Mattox Oppy, Deja Dodson, Taw Dodson all of Bartlesville and Jackson Taylor Oppy of Lutz, Florida; nieces, Joann Rich of Bartlesville and Patty Jo Hassler of Blythe, California; brother in law, Clyde H. Edwards of Roanoke, Virginia and several great nieces, nephews and cousins. Special friend, Mel Shaw of Bartlesville and very special friends, Siegfried and Chris Irrasch of Austria.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and two brothers, Ray Leon and Joe Land Bowden.
Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Monday, September 26, 2011 at the First Baptist Church of Bartlesville, Dr. Fowler will officiate. Interment will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Neekamp-Luginbuel Funeral Home.
Visitation will be Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday from 1:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Neekamp-Luginbuel Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the Oklahoma Baptist Children's home, 12700 E. 76th N., Owasso, Oklahoma 74055.
Online condolences may be made at www.honoringmemories.com.