Edna Poole's name is familiar to many Oklahomans who have known of her work as a missionary educator in the Congo (now Zaire, Africa) for 33 years, 1931-1964 A graduate of Phillips University Seminary, Miss Poole prepared for the mission field at the Yale Graduate School, which granted her a Master's degree in education with a minor in philsophy. She studied French, the language of the Congo, in Brussels, Belgium.

The United Christian Missionary Society of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) sent her to Africa. In the troubles following independence, the women missionaries and the children were evacuated to Belgium. After three months they returned to the Congo.

After retirement, Edna Poole spent four years teaching French at Bacone College, Muskogee, OK. In June 1967, she came to Edmond to live in Cottage 13, which she and her housemate, Mrs. Grace Vickers had built the previous year on the grounds of The Oklahoma Christian Home.  But there was no retirement for Edna Poole. She went all over Oklahoma and many other states speaking to various churches and community groups. She was an ordained minister. Poole was active in the A.A.U.W. of Edmond.  For a period of time she taught French at the School of Continuing Education of St. Luke's M.E. Church, OKC.

Miss Poole was a prolific gardener as long as she lived in Cottage 13--also a painter.

Poole was given the honor of being the first women elder elected in the First Christian Church of Edmond. In 1969, Miss Poole was honored by Phillips University, Enid, when she was named a distinguished alumna for that year.  Miss Poole's membership in and an ambassador for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) spans her youth and long adult life.

She touched many lives. She is survived by nieces: Cynthia Wells and husband Leo of Bella Vista, Ark., Nancy Bickers of Marble Falls, Texas, Mardele Maryott of Billings, Montana and Wanda Quong of Billings, Montana; great niece Leslie Doyle of Illinois; brother-in-law Rev. Archie Stevenson of Texas. She was preceded in death by 3 sisters and 1 brother.

Friends may call at the Baggerley Funeral Home.

Published in Daily Oklahoman, The (Oklahoma City, OK) - Sunday, May 26, 1991