Mary Viola Mensch

Mary Viola Knox

101, a resident of Lincoln, Arkansas, went to be with her Lord, April 2, 2006, at the City Hospital in Fayetteville, Arkansas. She was born February 9, 1905, at Lincoln, Arkansas, the daughter of Charlie and Fannie Sallee Mensch.

She was a cook at the Lincoln School Cafeteria and worked at many cafes as a cook in Lincoln area. She retired from the Redwood Café at age 62. She was the last charter member of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary in Lincoln. Viola was widowed at the age of 37 with four children to raise on her own. She did a number of jobs to earn money to care for her family. But she always had time to be a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great-great grandmother. - On Viola's 100th Birthday the mayor of Fayetteville declared a Proclamation declaring February 9, 2005, Viola Knox day.

She was preceded in death by her husband Irwin Knox, her parents, one grandson, David Reed, one great granddaughter, Heather Pearl, six brothers, two sisters, one son-in-law, Kenneth Reed and two nephews.

Survivors include her children, Nanna V. Reed of Duncan, Oklahoma, Irwin Knox and wife Peggy of Cincinnati, Arkansas, Fannie Fletcher and husband Lonnie of Stilwell, Oklahoma, and Ann Smith and husband, Garland of Lincoln, Arkansas; ten grandchildren, fifteen great grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren, five nephews, seven nieces and five cousins. She is also survived by her second family, the residents and staff of Fayetteville City Hospital.

The family will receive friends, Wednesday afternoon from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the Luginbuel Chapel in Prairie Grove.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, April 6, 2006 at 1:00 p.m. at the Luginbuel Chapel in Prairie Grove by Harold Leo Reed and Randall Ray. Burial will follow at the National Cemetery in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Pallbearers will be Randy Smith, Danny Packebush, Rusty Edwards, Mike Holcroft, Norman Ingram and John Grefphenreed.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Claud Wallace, Owen Dale Wallace, Jeromeri Dupuy and Kevin Fletcher.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Luginbuel Funeral Home of Prairie Grove, Arkansas.