Pauline ‘Polly’ Tate Varnadore

Pauline “Polly” Tate Varnadore, 85, was released from the bonds of earth to be welcomed into the arms of her heavenly Father on Jan. 19 at NHC Healthcare of Oak Ridge.

Polly was born Sept. 20, 1927, in Bemis, Tenn. She began working in Oak Ridge during World War II in a control room. During that time, she met the love of her life, a young sailor by the name of Ted Varnadore. The pair instantly fell in love and married three weeks later, a marriage that would last 67 years.

The pair left Oak Ridge to live in both Texas and Indiana, where they welcomed their children, Carol Varnadore Aebersold and Mark Varnadore, before returning permanently in 1960 to Oak Ridge. Polly worked a variety of jobs at Miller’s Department store and Walgreen’s, before finding success as the head teller at the Jackson Square branch of the former Bank of Oak Ridge before retiring from the Bank of America.

Polly’s life centered around her family and her church, Central Baptist of Oak Ridge. As a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, she stayed actively involved in the lives of her family. As a fixture at the church, she served as a Sunday School teacher, nursery worker, church hostess, and youth counselor. She was also active in W.M.U. and used her gifts as a member of the counting committee as well as the decorating committee.

She was widely celebrated as an excellent cook and people especially loved her home-made sour dough bread. Polly was a true servant to others and a prayer warrior. She showed great concern for those around her, and always did her best to encourage friends and family in their faith. She was fastidious and always well-dressed with an excellent sense of style and an unmatched earring collection.

Polly is survived by her husband, Earl “Ted” Varnadore, as well as her daughter, Carol and her husband Bob Aebersold of Acworth, Ga.; her son Mark Varnadore of Oak Ridge; her grandchildren, Chanda A. Bell, Christa A. Pitts, Brandon Aebersold, Brittney Jonika, and Chelsea Bridges. She is also survived by her five great-grandchildren, as well as her siblings: Irene Moss of Clinton, Fred Tate of Oliver Springs, and W.C. Dyer of Griffith, Ind., as well as many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents: Willy Asbury Tate and Novera Pearson Tate Dyer; and her siblings, Nora Sealbach, Katherine Braden, Lucille Parmenter, “Polly” Bridges, William Tate, and Bill Dyer.

The family will receive friends at Central Baptist from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 22. The funeral service will follow at 7 p.m., with Rev. Glenn Ellis officiating.

The graveside service will be held Wednesday, Jan. 23, at 11 a.m. at Oak Ridge Memorial Park.

You may sign the online guest book at www.weatherfordmortuary.com.

The family requests that donations be made to Central Baptist Church in honor of Polly Varnadore.