John P. St. John Memorial High School Class of 1931

(Jan. 30, 1912 — Sept. 26, 2013)

Ada’s lifelong dedication to community, history, and public service began early. In high school, she was active in the Girls Reserve Club, an organization devoted to “finding and giving the best.” After graduation, she worked as a receptionist for Dr. Charles Jones and his wife Ruby in Olathe — supporters who helped connect her with Governor Frank Carlson. She served as his aide in Topeka from 1947 to 1950 and then accompanied him to Washington, D.C., where she remained his senior aide until 1969. From 1969 to 1974, she continued her career in public service as senior aide to Senator Bob Dole. Even as her career carried her from Olathe to Topeka, Washington, D.C., Scottsdale, Arizona, and eventually back to Kansas, Ada never lost sight of her roots. She was instrumental in placing the Mahaffie House on the National Register of Historic Places, ensuring its preservation as a place where generations could learn about life in the 1800s and the history of the Santa Fe Trail. Representing and honoring her family’s history was of great importance to her, and she was proud to share Olathe’s heritage with countless schoolchildren. Before passing at the age of 101, Ada was remembered as a passionate and determined woman whose political career, community advocacy, and commitment to local history left an indelible mark on Olathe.