Eva Arline Votaw, age 96, of Wellfleet, passed away December 30, 2012 at Great Plains Regional Medical Center. She was born January 5, 1916 in Curtis, Nebraska to Arthur and Stella Blanche (Hinton) Poteet.
Eva’s father died November 1918 and she moved to Wichita to live with her grandparents, Ezra and Rose Hinton returning to Curtis in 1930. Eva attended UNSA school graduating in 1933. She married John Robert Votaw on April 11, 1933 at Smith Center, Kansas. The couple made their home in Curtis. They also lived in Wellfleet, moved to Denver for a short time in 1936 and then back to Wellfleet where they remained until 1967. They moved back to Curtis until January 1969 and back to the farm near Wellfleet after that.
Eva was a member of the United Brethren Church in Wichita until 1956 and then she transferred to the Wellfleet United Methodist Church, where she was a member for over 50 years. She started playing the piano for church starting at the age of 11 in Wichita and played every Sunday there after unless she was sick. She was a member of the Rebekah Lodge for over 60 years, the Harmony Club, Garden Club, Royal Neighbor Lodge, Afternoon Bridge Club, Frontier County Historical Society, Board member of the UNSTA, chairman of the NSA, member of the Nebraska Cattlewomen and state president of the Cow Belles. She was State Chairwoman for the Nebraska Nebrelles, Angus Organization, held offices in the County Farm Bureau, and was State Woman’s Chairman of the Nebraska Farm Bureau. Eva served 6 years on the Nebraska Beef Foundation Board, she was a 4-H Leader for 15 years and helped with music and programs for rural schools for 25 years. Eva was baptized at the West Side United Brethren Church in Wichita, Kansas. She transferred her membership to the Wellfleet United Methodist Church in 1956. She chaperoned 2 different groups of students to the United Nations Sessions in New York.
Survivors include 5 children, Carlos “Bud” (Charlene) Votaw of Wellfleet, NE, Jeanenne (Darryl) Pickett of Ft. Laramie, WY, David (Barbara) Votaw of Holdrege, NE, John (Norma) Votaw of Wellfleet, NE and Deborah (Robert) Adams of Vancouver, WA; sisters-in-law, Evelyn Poteet of Joplin, MO and Betty Votaw of Lincoln, NE; brother-in-law, William Votaw of North Platte, NE; 16 grandchildren; numerous great and great-great-grandchildren; and many other family members and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, John; grandson, Craig Votaw; great-granddaughter, Laynie Day Votaw; brothers, Dale (Dolly) and Gayle Poteet; and a sister, Pauline (John) Nutt.
Memorials may be made to the Wellfleet United Methodist Church and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.
Services will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, January 3, 2013 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home with the Reverend Tammy Aubushon officiating. Burial will follow in the Wellfleet Cemetery. Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. Wednesday with the family receiving friends from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home who is in charge of arrangements.