Pauline (Gargus) Paul

Pauline Paul was born on April 17, 1921 at home in Indianapolis, Indiana to Gerald and Mary Loftis. She went home to be with her Lord early Sunday morning on September 18, 2011. A beautiful child, Polly won 2nd place in a beauty contest when she was 3.



The family left for Texas in November 1929 when Polly was 8. Her father was to be the general contractor for a new Sears store. The banks closed the following day and the job disappeared. Along with 3 sisters, Polly walked a mile to Mt. Auburn Grade School. In 1934, Polly's father began instructing her and the youngest sister in acrobatics. The following year they began competing in the amateur shows held at the parks, the Melba Theater in downtown Dallas, and the Band Shell at the State Fair. The Loftis Sisters were a force to be dealt with. They won every show except one where they came in 2nd. The $10.00 prize money would buy groceries for their family of 10 for a week. In 1929, still a beauty, Polly graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School. Shortly afterwards, she married Thomas Eugene Gargus.



She was preceded in death by her Mother, Mary Augustine (Bishop, Loftis) Houser; Father, Gerald Alvin Loftis; two sisters, Claudia Irene (Loftis) Nance and Geraldine Frances (Loftis, Badgett) Schwartz; a brother, Alvin Newton Loftis; two sons, Thomas Eugene Gargus, Jr. and Roy Phillip Gargus; a grandson, Howard Edward Worthington, II; and two husbands, Thomas Eugene Gargus, Sr and Robert Henry Paul. She is survived by her sisters, Mariemma Ruth (Loftis, Goms) Nelson; Betty Lee (Loftis, Noel) Trongo; Alice Maude (Loftis, Evans) Fowler, and brother J. Lloyd Edward Loftis; her three children, Lloyd Earl Gargus, MaryAnn (Gargus, Worthington) Rainey, Richard Ivan Gargus, stepchildren Kathleen Mary Moss and Duncan Anthony Paul. She was survived by 5 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-grandchild and numerous nieces and nephews.



Pauline taught by example the importance of unconditional love, forgiveness, faith and charity. She always took a sincere interest in her family's lives and was very supportive of their endeavors..



Her fundamental belief in life was to love one another, never argue, to not fuss and always, no matter what, get along with one another by forgiving. She was a peacemaker and people pleaser taking great pain in making sure that everyone was happy. She gave freely and never expected anything in return. Her family gave her great happiness and comfort at all times. Her greatest satisfaction came from her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was a Christian woman and lived her life as a believer.



As a homemaker and loving mother, Polly made a positive difference with whomever she came in contact throughout her life.



Pauline was the third child of eight children and at an early age, she helped her mother with her five younger sisters and brothers.



More than anything she wanted for her family and friends to continue to be happy and live life to the fullest. She was good to the core, of the highest integrity, refreshing, honest, and had a great sense of humor. She taught her children to find the best in every situation.



Twelve years ago Pauline became the Popcorn Lady at the Grand Bank in Grand Prairie, TX. She served popcorn every Friday to customers making many friends along the way. When asked what made her popcorn so good, she replied, "The secret is in the butter." She enjoyed watching Wheel of Fortune and would root for the underdog and would get a kick out of solving the puzzle first.





She was an award winning doll maker and taught herself to paint beautiful oil paintings. She always said "When God gives you a talent and you don't use it, you are sinning." She definitely used her talents to the fullest and loved donating her dolls to the church and other functions for fund raising. Her handwork on the dolls was exquisite and they have been sold all over the world. She was once asked to go exclusive by a large department store, but chose not to because she felt that the dolls would be too expensive and many children wouldn't get to enjoy them.



Polly lived her life taking advantage of every opportunity she was given and even making a few of her own. She agreed with the saying: "Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways- dolls in one hand and her hat in the other- body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "Whoa, what a ride!"



A memorial service will be held on Friday September 30, 2011 at 11:00 AM at 1st United Methodist Church 122 North Center Street
Grand Prairie, Texas 75050. A graveside service will be held later that afternoon at 4:00 PM at Restland Memorial Park, 13005 Greenville Avenue Dallas, Texas 75243-1916.