Devaul, Louise Cundiff -1934-2011

CUNDIFF, DEVAUL

Posted By: Polk volunteer
Date: 7/26/2024 at 16:46:12

Louise was born in Clarinda, Iowa May 14, 1934, first child to Mr. William and Mrs. Gertrude Cundiff. A brother, John was born two years later. She grew up in Clarinda and graduated from Clarinda High School in the class of 1952.
Louise attended Cottey College in Nevada, Missouri 1952 to 1953. In 1954, Louise moved to Des Moines to attend American Institute of Business. A member of Alpha Iota sorority, she graduated with a degree in accounting in 1956. She met Abram (Abe) DeVaul on a blind double date in 1955. They were married in Clarinda on September 23, 1956. He was working for Pittsburgh Des Moines Company as a civil engineer after graduation from ISU in 1956. An assignment required them to move to Port Lavaca, Texas where they lived for a year until Louise found a nest of scorpions in her dresser drawer. They returned to Des Moines very shortly thereafter. Abe continued his work with PDM, and Louise became a homemaker. They moved to the south side of Des Moines in 1961 and remained there until briefly moving to Franklin, TN in 1984. Another change in assignment (not creepy bugs) brought them back to Urbandale in 1986. Their only child, John, was born in April 1965. He now lives with his wife, Jennifer, and son, Taylor outside of Chattanooga, TN.
Both Louise and Abe have been members of First United Methodist Church since 1959. She was an advocate for all things green and loved to care for her plants both inside and outdoors. Her backyard could not contain enough finches or cardinals for her pleasure. Another source of joy was traveling whether it was a cruise to Alaska, the beach, or a drive in the country. Louise loved to soak in as much of God's creation as she could.
Louise left her body and this world to be in the presence of Jesus and her Almighty Father January 9, 2011. Abe, her brother John Cundiff of Mesa Arizona, and her son's family survive her. Services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, January 15, 2011, at First United Methodist Church, with interment following at Resthaven Cemetery in West Des Moines.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, January 14, at Iles Funeral Homes-Westover Chapel. Memorials can be made to First United Methodist Church.
Published In Des Moines (IA) Register; Thursday, January 13, 2011, Page 6B