Darlene Pollom

Barbara “Darlene” Pollom, lifelong North Topeka resident, passed away July 10, 2026, at age 97.

She was born November 1, 1928, to parents Milton and Mabel Palmer. The oldest of four children, she grew up near Garfield Park off North Kansas Avenue.

Darlene graduated from Seaman High School, where she was elected FHA Kansas state president, homecoming queen and student council treasurer, and served as newspaper co-editor and a member of the yearbook staff. She attended Kansas State University on a scholarship.

In 1948 she married the love of her life, Joe Pollom. They lived in Effingham and Wamego, Kansas, where Joe was a high school teacher and head football coach, before returning to North Topeka in 1954, where Joe opened his State Farm Insurance agency. After their children were mostly raised, Darlene spent the next several years as a Shawnee County school nurse aide. She was an active member of Second Presbyterian Church for many years, and an advocate for the poor, civil rights, housing anti-discrimination, environmental protection, and food safety and nutrition. She was known as an excellent cook and homemaker, though she never believed it was solely a woman’s responsibility. Darlene was also known for her creativity in many areas: illustrated letters to her grandchildren, elaborate Easter egg scavenger hunts, and a Halloween haunted house and costumes for neighborhood trick-or-treaters. Later in life, she delighted her family with her watercolor art.

Darlene and Joe created a wonderful home for their children. Her four adult children today are so grateful to her for what she did to help create the strong bonds we feel for our parents and each other. She treasured her family above all else and all treasured her in return.

Darlene was preceded in death by Joe, her husband of 68 years; her sister Bernice Chaffee, and her brother, Marvin “Butch” Palmer. She is survived by her sister Judy Schreiner, and her four children and their spouses: Alan Pollom (Melody), Jane Brumley (Keith), Julie Mathews and Andy Pollom (Francie); seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren: Erik Pollom (Ellen), Julia and Alex; Alison Rogers (Jamie) and Samuel; Aaron Brumley (Sarah); Laine Hash (Reid), Elise and Barrett; Olivia Mathews; Weston Pollom (Jordan), Brooklyn and Xander; Zachary Pollom (Haley), Ezra and Lucas; all of whom she dearly loved.

Although she was nearly 98 years old, her loved ones all wished for more time with her. Her family thanks the staff at Homestead Assisted Care, who provided such loving care during the last part of her life.

A visitation will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, July 16, followed by a funeral service at 2 p.m. — both at Parker-Price & Davidson Cremations and Funerals, 245 NW Independence, Topeka, KS 66608. A private family gathering for interment will take place in Rochester Cemetery, among her many Kansas relatives. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Second Presbyterian Church, 210 NW Menninger Rd., Topeka, KS 66617; or Topeka Rescue Mission, 600 N Kansas Ave. Topeka, KS 66608.