Adabelle Haughawout

Adabelle Haughawout passed away on November 9, 2008. She was born in Stafford, Kansas in 1916 and moved to Topeka in 1949. She married Evan (Buss) Haughawout in 1940. He preceded her in death. She is survived by her daughter Linda Lee, her son-in-law Craig Woodbury, and her granddaughter Alexandra Woodbury, all of Topeka. With the gift of a beautiful singing voice and a music degree from Bethany College, Adabelle she first taught high school music in Rice County. She worked for the USO in World War II as an entertainer and set up music and show clubs. She sang for Wall-Diffenderfer Mortuary for 10 years as a soloist and in a quartet, was a soloist at the First United Methodist Church for 30 years, the Jewish Temple for 25 years, and the Topeka Civic Symphony Chorus. After receiving her masters degree in Reading from Washburn University in 1970, she taught English at Crane Junior High School, music and English at Jardine Junior High School, and Special Reading at Topeka West High School. She was honored by the Topeka Board of Education as Outstanding Teacher in 1970. She served as president of the Topeka Language Arts Teachers, and president of the Shawnee County Reading Association. It was the loss of her eyesight that caused Adabelle to discover the real need for an information source and support group for people with vision impairment. She initiated the Stock Eye Institute at St. Francis Medical Center, founded the Visual Support Group, and spent countless hours counseling people coping with visual problems and speaking to many civic groups including the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library about community resources for visual problems. In conjunction with the Lions Club International, she established the Low Vision Clinic in the Eye Institute, both of which are unique to Topeka and Northeast Kansas. In 2003, she was given a prestigious Jefferson Award in the category of Health and Well Being, an award given to ordinary people who do extraordinary things without expectation of reward. She was honored by the Topeka Junior League for her volunteer service. She was president of the Topeka Music Study Club and Minerva Club, a patroness of Sigma Alpha Iota, and a member of Chapter DV of PEO and the Topeka Area Retired Teachers Association. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, November 18 at 10:00 a.m. at The First United Methodist Church, 6th and Harrison, with a reception following. Memorial contributions may be sent to the C.E. and Adabelle Haughawout Music Scholarship Fund, % Washburn Endowment Association, 1729 SW MacVicar Ave., Topeka, Kansas 66604. Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel is assisting the family.