Rosalind Metzler

Rosalind Metzler, 103, died at her home in Carbondale on August 5, 2010. Born in Carbondale on Christmas Day, 1906, she was the oldest daughter of George Clyde Metzler and Alma Warner Metzler. A second daughter, Marion, born seven years later, died in a plane crash in 1951.

Rosalind grew up and lived all her life on a farm in Carbondale that has been in her family since 1881. Rosalind was first home-schooled by her mother, and then she attended Elliott elementary school. After graduating from Carbondale High School in 1924, she worked on the family farm. Her first off-the-farm job was at the Carbondale Farmers Union Store, where she worked for 17 years, the last seven as manager. Rosalind served as Acting Postmaster in Carbondale from April 1956 to August 1957, when she was named Postmaster, a job which she held until her retirement in December 1976. Recently, when asked whether her title had been "Postmistress" or "Postmaster," Rosalind responded: "That was one of the first things we learned. We weren't anybody's mistress. We were Postmasters." This job afforded Rosalind the pleasure of travel, usually by train, to the annual National Postmasters Conventions. Over the years, she visited every state except, she thought, South Carolina.

Rosalind was active in the Osage County Historical Society, where she served as treasurer, and in Carbondale's Community United Church of Christ. Church members helped her to celebrate her 100th birthday with a festive lunch in 2006. An avid fan of K.U. basketball, Rosalind was delighted also to attend a nationally televised game, where the announcer acknowledged her 100th birthday at half-time. Survivors include six second cousins: Linda Metzler, Gambier, OH; Brenda Metzler, Needham, MA; Marilyn Metzler, Chapel Hill, NC; Marty Metzler, Topeka, KS; Kaye Beall, Cleburne, TX; and Dale Metzler, Yukon, OK.

A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m., Monday, August 9, 2010 at Carbondale Community United Church of Christ, 104 S. 4th Street, Carbondale, KS 66414. Interment will follow at Carbondale Cemetery. After 5 p.m., Sunday, Rosalind will lie in state at the church, where family will receive friends from 6-7 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the church. Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel is assisting the family.