Obituary of Pauline P. Comings

Pauline Jeannette Poole Comings, 99, died peacefully in her sleep Saturday, April 22, in Coventryville, at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Deborah C. and Timothy Vroman, where she had resided for more than nine years. Born Feb. 14, 1924, in the township of Afton, she was the daughter of Ernest L. and Reta Young Poole. She graduated from Afton Central School in 1943. She married Philip C. Comings, Aug. 2, 1944, at the Afton First Baptist Church with the Rev. Alan Douglas officiating. Pauline and Phil owned and operated Comyncroft, a sheep and dairy farm, where they raised lambs for the Easter market and milked registered Holstein cattle. They sold the family farm to the Vromans and moved up the road to a home she and Phil designed and built on the farm, where they continued to raise a small flock of sheep. She assisted Phil for many years managing the Southern Tier wool pool. They were also known for their maple syrup production and Pauline's maple cream and candy. Mr. Comings died Dec. 31, 2001. Pauline was a godly example of how a Christian is to live. She was an active member of the Afton First Baptist Church and for many years taught Sunday School, Junior Church and Vacation Bible School. She enjoyed teaching children about Jesus, using flannel graph boards and stories. She had also served as president of release time for Afton Central School. After graduation from high school she worked in the Scintilla war plant making magnetos for the war effort during World War II. Pauline worked six years as a teachers' aide and then 13 years in the audio visual department at ACS. She was an avid gardener and seamstress, canning and freezing produce and sewing to feed and clothe her family. A real Proverbs 31 woman. Pauline also practiced Christian hospitality, welcoming many into her home. Over her many years she had served her community as president of the school's parent-teacher association, was a member of Home Bureau, had been a 4-H leader, and had served on the Chenango County Board of Health. She had also been a member of My Brothers' Keeper Quilt Group. While in her 80s, she spent six winters residing at French Camp Academy, French Camp, Mississippi. She was grandma to the many teenage girls in Heidelberg Dorm, where she lived with her son, Tim, and daughter-in-law, Leslie, who were serving as dorm parents. She is survived by two sons and a daughter-in-law, Patrick P. Comings, Troutman, NC, and Timothy C. and Leslie K. Comings, French Camp, MS; three daughters and sons-in-law, Sharon L. and Richard Cutting, Coventryville, Laurie C. and Stephen L. Jones, Ellisburg, and Deborah C. and Timothy Vroman, Coventryville; a sister, Mary E. Douglas, Towanda, PA; 14 grandchildren, many great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins. Besides her husband, she is predeceased by her two brothers, Edward E. "Ned" Poole, and James William "Bill" Poole; and a daughter-in-law, Nancy S. Comings. Calling hours will be 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Friday, May 5, followed by a memorial service at 1 p.m., all at the Afton First Baptist Church. Private burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery, Afton. Donations in her memory may be made to the Afton First Baptist Church Missions Program. Arrangements are with C.H. Landers Funeral Home, Sidney, www.landersfh.com.