Miscellaneous Cowley County, Kansas Obituaries - 1997

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Ernest Robinson
Ernest A. "Bud" Robinson, 81, of 1518 Elizabeth in Winfield, died Oct. 30, 1997, at William Newton Memorial Hospital.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Miles Funeral Service with interment at 3 p.m. in Stafford Cemetery.
Friends may call at the funeral home from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Memorials have been established with the American Heart Association and the Cancer Support Group of Winfield.
Born Feb. 24, 1916, at Florence, Robinson was a son of Richard Selwin and Mabel Christina (Bolen) Robinson. He was raised in Florence and graduated from Florence High School in 1934.
On Jan. 1, 1936, he married Eula O'Kelley, and they resided in Florence. They were later divorced.
A veteran of World War II, Robinson served with the U.S. Army.
He began working in the automotive industry as a young man and was employed in auto repair and body work for many years.
On June 5, 1948, he married Bonnie J. Bartlett at Stafford. They lived in Stafford, Hutchinson, Wichita and Liberal before moving to Winfield in 1959.
Robinson was employed by Kline Motors for many years and later worked for Russell Construction Co.
The couple had owned and operated the Viking Sewing Machine Service Center in Winfield since 1970.
Robinson was a member of the First United Methodist Church and American Legion Post 10.
Survivors include his wife, Bonnie Robinson, Winfield; two sons, Ronald Gene Robinson, Santa Clara, Calif., and Rex E. Robinson, Corona, Calif.; three daughters, Marcia Rose Corrales, Kansas City, Kan., and Rita Ruanne Chijimatsu and Sherri Lynne Biddle, both of Corona, Calif.; two brothers, Robert E. Robinson, Lakewood, Calif., and Kenneth E. Robinson, Florence; many grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

Martha Banister Price
Martha 'Sid' Cora Banister Price, 93, of Arkansas City, died Oct. 31, 1997, at Presbyterian manor Health Care Center, Arkansas City.
Graveside services are set for 2 p.m. Monday at Riverview Cemetery, Arkansas CIty. The Rev. Wade C. Graber will officiate.
Rindt-Erdman Funeral Home of Arkansas City is in charge of arrangements.
Martha Cora Speers was born Sept. 7, 1904, in Muskogee County, Okla., to Arthur and Cora Vandever. She was raised by her grandparents Edmond and Lucenda Speers after her mother died she she was five months old.
On Dec. 27, 1919, she married Frank M. Banister. They made their home in Arkansas City for 33 years until they divorced.
She then married John B. Price on Oct. 19, 1954, in Independence, Mo., and the couple lived in Kansas City, Mo. In 1959 they moved to Arkansas City where John died in 1962.
She then moved to Newkirk, Okla., in 1980 to live with her son, Bill Banister. In 1991 she moved to the nursing home.
Banister was a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary and the First Baptist Church of Arkansas City.
Survivors include her son Bill, Kenneth Banister of Ellicot, Colo., Tom Banister of Ocala, Fla., Jim Banister of Kansas City, Mo., and Jay Banister of Arkansas City; daughters Mary Banister Falkenberg of Arkansas City, Jenoyse Banister Sandborn of Winfield and Maurita Banister Enderud of Newkirk, Okla; 48 grandchildren and more than 100 great-grandchildren. 

William King
William T. "Bill" King, 71, retired Udall police chief, of 610 E. 11th Avenue in Winfield, died Oct. 31, 1997, at his home.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Miles Funeral Service. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery.
Friends may call at the funeral home until 9 tonight and until noon Tuesday.
A memorial fund, Cowley County Kids, to benefit troubled youth, has been established in King's name. Contributions can be made at First National Bank in Winfield, Bank of Commerce in Udall and Miles Funeral Service.
King was born Jan. 10, 1926, in Winfield, to Vester E. and Thelma Leota (Hasty) King. Raised in Winfield, he graduated from Winfield High School in 1944.
A veteran of World War II, King served with the U.S. Marines as a corporal in Guam and the South Pacific Theatre. Following discharge, he returned to Winfield where he operated Standard and Texaco service stations at Seventh and Main.
On Oct. 29, 1947, he married Genevieve Virginia Darnell. They lived in Winfield, Colorado and Oklahoma before they divorced. 
On June 28, 1983, he married Karen L. Metz in Belle Plaine. They resided in Udall and Winfield. 
King was employed in oil field work in Colorado and Oklahoma and later operated his parents' grocery store in Winfield. He owned and operated Curley's Inn restaurant and served as manager of American Legion Post 10 in Winfield. He was employed by the Kansas Department of Transportation and also operated a motel in Anthony.
During the late 1970s he operated a machine shop in Udall. During the 1980s and early 1990s he served as chief of police for the city of Udall. He retired in 1991 and moved to Winfield in 1993.
King was a member of the First Christian Church, American Legion Post 10 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3544. A former member and president of the Udall Lions Club, he was affiliated with the National Sheriffs Association and the National Police Chiefs Association.
Survivors include his wife, Karen King, Winfield; four sons, Wayne L. King, Winfield, William Thomas King and Christian Andrew King, both of Matthews, N.C., and Jason S. King, El Dorado; a daughter, Linda L. Riggs, Nixa, Mo.; three brothers, Jack J. King, Independence, James L. King, Winfield, and Robert M. King, Mulvane; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Sylvia Price
ARKANSAS CITY - Sylvia "Sid" Cora Banister Price, 93, of Arkansas City, died Oct. 31, 1997, at Presbyterian Manor Health Care Center in Arkansas City.
Services were held at 2 p.m. Nov. 3 in Riverview Cemetery. The Rev. Wade C. Graber officiated. Rindt-Erdman was in charge of arrangements.
Price was born Sept., 7, 1904, in Muskogee, Okla., to Arther and Cora Vandever. She was raised by her grandparents, Edmond and Lucinda Speers, as her mother died when she was five months old. 
On Dec. 27, 1919, she married Frank M. Banister. They made their home in Arkansas City for 33 years until they divorced.
On Oct. 19, 1954, she married John B. Price in Independence, Mo., and they made their home in Kansas City, Mo. In 1959 they moved to Arkansas City. He died in 1962.
Price moved to Newkirk, Okla., in 1980 to live with her son, Bill Banister. She lived there until 1991 when she moved to Presbyterian Manor.
She was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary and the First Baptist Church of Arkansas City.
Survivors include five sons, Bill Banister, Newkirk, Okla., Kenneth Banister, Ellicot, Colo., Tom Banister, Ocala, Fla., Jim Banister, Kansas City, Mo., and Jay Banister, Arkansas City; three daughters, Mary Banister Falkenberg, Arkansas City, Jenoyse Banister Sandborn, Winfield, and Maurita Banister Enderud, Newkirk, Okla.; 48 grandchildren and over 100 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her sons, Dee Allen Banister, Paul Banister, and Ted Banister, and her daughters, Maxine Banister Rice, Betty Banister Naden, Leta Banister and Letha Banister.

Donald Jackson
ARKANSAS CITY - Donald Conrad Jackson, 59, of Arkansas City, died Nov. 2, 1997, at South Central Kansas Regional Medical Center.
Services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday in Harmony Community Cemetery, North Little Rock, Ark. The Rev. Joe Holladay will officiate.
Friends may call at Rindt-Erdman Funeral Home form 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday.
A memorial has been established with the American Cancer Society.
Jackson was born Jan. 29, 1938, in North Little Rock, Ark., to George Basil and Elma Price (Hobater) Jackson. He attended schools in North Little Rock. 
On May 7, 1980, he married Louise Elaine Lampson in Newkirk, Okla., and they made their home in Arkansas City.
Jackson worked for the railroad as a heavy equipment operator and in construction. 
Survivors include his wife, Elaine Jackson, Arkansas City; four sons, George Jackson, Topeka, and Danny Jackson, Tommy Jackson and Johnny Jackson, all of Winfield; a daughter, Amanda Sue Jackson, Arkansas City; three brothers, Jackie B. Jackson, Sherwood, Ark., Shelby J. Jackson, Conway, Ark., and Billy Gene Jackson, North Little Rock; four sisters, Stella Elaine Gentry and Jane Stanton, both of North Little Rock, Patricia Burridge, Greenbrier, Tenn., and Barbara R. Daniel, Sherwood, Ark., and three grandchildren.

Sylvia Nellis
DEXTER - Services for Sylvia A. Nellis were held at 2 p.m. Nov. 1, 1997, in the Dexter First Baptist Church. The Revs. Norman Reeves and Mark Deeter officiated. Burial was in Dexter Cemetery. 
Norman Nellis sang "How Great Thou Art," and Alan Nellis performed a trumpet medley. Barbara Jackson, pianist, played "O, That Will Be Glory."
Honorary casket bearers were Roy Barger, Cecil Johnson, Bill Crow, Dean Martling, Howard Gray, Wendell Hoyt and Kenneth Huff.
Casket bearers were Norman, Alan, Jason and Greg Nellis, Jim Davidson, Steven Spreer and Toby Weishaar.
A memorial has been established with the Dexter First Baptist Church.
Wheeler Funeral Home of Burden was in charge of arrangements.

Barbara Devlin
WICHITA - Barbara L. Devlin, 53, of Wichita, died Oct. 31, 1997, at her residence.
Services will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday in Kechi Cemetery. The Rev. Ralph Barclay will officiate.
Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Albert and Frances Riley, Devlin was a waitress.
Survivors include a daughter, Melissa Devlin, Wichita; two brothers, Raymond Manis, Wichita, and Bill Riley, Winfield; and two sisters, Alberta Riley and Jean Riley, both of Wichita.

Ernest Robinson
Services for Ernest Arthur "Bud" Robinson, 81, who died Oct. 30, 1997, were held at 10 a.m. Nov. 3 at Miles Funeral Service. The Rev. Karen Ault officiated. Burial was at 3 p.m. in the Stafford, Kan., cemetery.
Special vocal music included "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" and "The Lord's Prayer."
Casket bearers were Troy Bartlett, Jeremy and Randy Crockett, Jim Logue, Eldwyn Minks and Chris Podschun.
Memorials have been established with the American Heart Association and the Cancer Support Group of Winfield.

Palmer Mathis
JUNCTION CITY - Palmer H. Mathis, 78, of Junction City, formerly of Winfield, died Nov. 1, 1997 at Geary Community Hospital in Junction City.
Services were held at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 4 in Johnson Funeral Chapel. Pastor Dennis P. Rogers officiated. Burial was in Highland Cemetery at Junction City. 
Honorary casket bearers were Glen Haslett, Bob Sherradan, Gene Seley and Jim Bowen. Casket bearers were Chris Mathis, Jeff Leuker, Mark Gauntt, Jeff Mathis, Val Elliott and Kent Dugger.
Memorials have been established with the Church of Christ and the Center for Basic Cancer Research at Kansas State University.
Mathis was born Aug. 6, 1919, in Salem, Ark., to Bert and Clarice (Harkleroads) Mathis. In 1939 he married Dorothy E. Allen in Dyess, Ark.
Mathis worked for Daniels Stone Quarry at Winfield for many years before moving to Junction City in 1945. He was manager of the Ready-Mix plant in Junction City from 1945 until his retirement in 1985.
He was a member of the Church of Christ and Rolling Meadows Golf Course.
Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Mathis, and a son, James A. Mathis, both of Junction City; a brother, James R. Mathis, and a sister, Minnie Beth Rogers, both of Little Rock, Ark.; five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son, Jerry Mathis.

Glenn Houdek
ARKANSAS CITY - Glenn L. Houdek, 87, of Arkansas City, died Nov. 2, 1997, at South Central Kansas Regional Medical Center. 
Services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday at Rindt-Erdman Funeral Home. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery. The Rev. Guy Rendoff will officiate.
A memorial has been established with the First United Methodist Church. Contributions can be made through the funeral home.
Houdek was born March 1, 1910, in Cuba, Kan., to Latimer C. and Ona (Klas) Houdek. He was raised and educated in Newkirk, Okla., and graduated from Newkirk High School in 1928. He attended the University of Oklahoma for a year.
On Nov. 30, 1928, he married Evelyn Lenora Ray in Wellington. They made their home in Arkansas City before moving to Wichita in 1936. They later moved to Winfield and returned to Arkansas City in 1945. 
Houdek was the owner of Houdek Sign Co. from 1947 to 1973. In 1994 he started the Houdek Outdoor Advertising Co. with his son, Dick. 
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Arkansas City Area Chamber of Commerce and Ambassadors.
Survivors include his wife, Evelyn, Arkansas City; two sons, Dick Houdek, Arkansas City, and Ron Houdek, Midland, Texas; seven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. 
A son, Duane Houdek, died in 1986.

Charlie Pontious
PERRY, Okla. - Charlie Emerson Pontious, 92, formerly of Foraker, Okla., died Nov. 2, 1997, at Perry Nursing Home in Perry.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Foraker United Methodist Church. The Rev. Bill Long will officiate. Burial will be in Foraker Cemetery.
Friends may call at Grace Memorial Shidler Chapel until noon Wednesday.
Memorials have been established with Foraker United Methodist Church, Foraker, OK 74652, and the Perry Nursing Home Activity Center, c/o Kim Guitron, 410 N. 15th, Perry, OK 73077.
Pontious was born Nov. 15, 1904, in Lincoln, to James Garfield and Dora Mable (Lyon) Pontious. The family moved to the Billings, Okla., area by covered wagon when he was nine years old. They eventually settled at Foraker.
On Aug. 19, 1929, he married Rosie May Combs in Newkirk, and they established their home in Foraker. In 1965 the couple moved to Perry. She died Jan. 2, 1995.
Pontious worked for several ranches in Osage County, including the Barton Ranch for 35 years. He also worked for the railroad for 17 years and in the oil fields. He did not retire until he was in his 80s.
Survivors include a son, Jay Pontious, Lincolnville; five daughters, Norma Wadsworth, Pawhuska, Okla., Delores Reamy, Lamar, Colo., Gloria Harris, Andover, Louise Pontious, Shidler, Okla., and Linda Pontious, McPherson; 20 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great-grandchildren.
Two sons, John R. Pontious and Bill J. Pontious, preceded him in death.

Norman Means
NEWKIRK, Okla. - Norman Reuel Means, 70, longtime Newkirk area resident, died Nov. 1, 1997, in William Newton Memorial Hospital.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the IXL Baptist Church in Arkansas City. The Rev. Gary Brown will officiate. Burial will be in Newkirk Cemetery. Miller-Stahl Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.
A memorial has been established with IXL Baptist Church. Contributions can be sent to Eastman National Bank, P.O. Box 468, Newkirk, OK 74647.
Means was born Aug. 3, 1927, on Chilocco Indian land near Newkirk, to Francis Hobart and Edna Maria (Bode) Means. He grew up near Newkirk and attended Dale rural school. He graduated from Newkirk High School in 1946. 
Means the worked in concrete construction building co-op elevators. 
He served with the U.S. Army's 15th Anti-Aircraft Artillery D Battery Infantry Regiment, Seventh Division, during the Korean Conflict.
On June 5, 1953, he married Mary Virginia Kent in Newkirk. They made their home near Chilocco, and he worked for the Smith & Moon Welding Co. In 1957 he began working at the John Morrell packing plant as a pipefitter and plumber. He retired from the plant in 1982.
His wife died March 17, 1981.
On April 20, 1991, he married Sharon Jones Leake in Newkirk, and they made their home on the family farm.
Means was a member of IXL Baptist Church, Spencer Ralston Post 1254 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Rodeo Key Club and the Arkansas City Mavericks.
Survivors include his wife, Sharon Means, Newkirk; two daughters, Karen Kay Zarth, Newkirk, and Sharri Lynn James, Arkansas City; two stepsons, Terry Foster and Charles Foster, and a stepdaughter, Sherry Spielman, all of Arkansas City; four brothers, Lloyd Means, Newkirk, Frank Means, Tulsa, Okla., Hobart Means, Midwest City, Okla., and Roland Means, Hennessey, Okla.; two sisters, Olive Bradley, Midwest City, and Marcelee Goodman, Newkirk; five grandchildren and three step-grandchildren.

Glenn Blakemore
WICHITA - Glenn Adkins Blakemore, 78, retired educator, of Wichita, died Oct. 30, 1997, in Wichita. 
Services were held at 10 a.m. Nov. 3 in IOOF Cemetery, Tonkawa, Okla., and at 3 p.m. in Grace Presbyterian Church, Wichita.
Memorials have been established with Grace Presbyterian Church and the University of the Ozarks, 415 N. College Ave., Clarksville, AR 72830-2880.
Blakemore was born June 7, 1919, in Clarksville, Ark., to the Rev. Loren E. and Glenn (Adkins) Blakemore.
During World War II, his plane was shot down over France. He was hidden by French families for 11 months but was found by the Germans and held prisoner until the end of the war 17 months later.
On Dec. 21, 1952, he married Helen Conaghan in Tonkawa.
Blakemore received his undergraduate degree from the University of the Ozarks and his master's degree from Wichita State University. 
He taught English and speech at Wichita West High School for 35 years until his retirement in 1984. He also taught speech at WSU for 20 years.
Survivors include his wife, Helen Blakemore, Wichita; a son, David Blakemore, Winfield; two sisters, Lorena Fraley and Dr. Robbie Blakemore, both of Knoxville, Tenn.; and three grandchildren.

Jose Vasquez
Jose Julian Vasquez, 47, of 1502 Manning, Winfield, died Nov. 2, 1997, at Vanderbilt University Hospital, Nashville, Tenn. 
A Rosary service will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Swisher-Taylor & Morris Chapel. The Rev. Mike Nolan will officiate. Burial will be in Celaya, Guantatyo, Mexico.
Friends may call at the funeral home from 9 a.m. until the service Wednesday.
A memorial has been established with the American Heart Association.
Vasquez was born Jan. 9, 1950, in Celaya, Guantatyo, Mexico, to Pedro Vasquez and Maria De Lus Campos. 
On Nov. 10, 1977, he married Matilda Cabrera in Kirksville, Mo.
Vasquez was employed by Pikes Construction in Arkansas City. A 20-year resident of Winfield, he was a member of Holy Name Catholic Church.
Survivors include his wife, Matilda Vasquez, Winfield; a stepson, Ricardo Ruiz, Lawrence; four brothers, Tomas Vasquez and Alfredo Vasquez, both of Georgia, and Nicholas Vasquez and Francisco Vasquez, both of Celaya, Mexico; and four sisters, Estes Lara, Juanita Ortiz, Remedios Ortiz and Cruz Vasquez, all of Celaya, Mexico. 

George Coble
HOWARD - George W. Coble, 83, of Howard, retired farmer and rancher, died Nov. 2, 1997, at the home of his son northeast of Howard.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in South Lawn Cemetery at Severy. The Rev. Tony Pameticky will officiate. 
A memorial has been established with the Center for Basic Cancer Research at Kansas State University. Contributions can be made through Zimmerman Funeral Home.
Coble was born Sept. 20, 1914, near Parsons, to Altavert and Myrtle (Turner) Coble. He lived on a farm south of Howard before moving to a farm east of Severy. He attended Economy rural school.
On Dec. 29, 1937, he married Ula Pauline McCollum in Fredonia. He was a farmer and rancher in the Severy area until moving to a farm southwest of Fall River in 1970. After his wife's death on May 6, 1995, he continued operating his farm until ill health caused him to move to his son's home in October 1996.
Survivors include two sons, Alan Coble, Howard, and Ray Coble, Severy; two daughters, Laura Dark, Arlington, Texas, and Ruth Barnes, Meade; three half-brothers, Glenn Coble, Moline, Floyd Coble, Severy, and Ted Coble, Basehor; three half-sisters, Pauline Bellar, Howard, Leta Brookover, La Habra, Calif., and Lorene Pape, Olpe; nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Robert Robinson
Services for Robert Reed Robinson, 72, who died Oct. 28, 1997, were held at 11 a.m. Nov. 4 in Union-Graham Cemetery in Winfield. The Rev. Gerald Graber officiated.
Miles Funeral Service was in charge of arrangements.

William King
Services for William T. "Bill" King, 71, who died Oct. 31, 1997, were held at 2 p.m. Nov. 4 at Miles Funeral Service. The Rev. Bill Fulton officiated. Burial was in Highland Cemetery.
Military rites were conducted by the United States Marine Corps color guard from Wichita.
Organist was Keith Anglemyer. Special vocal music was "Precious Lord, Take My Hand." The congregation sang "America, the Beautiful."
Honorary casket bearers were: Curstin and Zachary Adams, Amber Barnett, Meagan and Saraha DeMerritt, Jamie Gilbreath, Joey Godwin, Kinra Green, Paige Haas, Gina Gilbreath Hoffman, Aimee Kunkle, Nathan Leslie, Michael Mora, Andy Sadler and Dusty Wilson.
Casket bearers were: Robert Van Arsdale, J.P. Crupper, Glenn and Keith DeMerritt, Herb Gilbreath, Gene McCauley, Kent Radcliff and Mike Weakley.
A memorial called Cowley County Kids has been established to benefit troubled youth. 

Ruth Russell
UDALL - Ruth Russell, 77, homemaker, of Udall, died Nov. 5, 1997, in Wichita.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Ninnescah Cemetery. 
Friends may call at Hatfield-Smith Funeral Home in Belle Plaine until 8 tonight and from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday.
A memorial has been established with the American Diabetes Association.
Russell was born July 2, 1920, in Humboldt, to Samuel Miles and Mabel Lulu (Davis) Knox.
Her husband, Jesse B. Russell, preceded her in death.
She was a member of the Udall United Methodist Church.
Survivors include four sons, Jesse Russell Jr., Oxford, George Russell and David Russell, both of Mulvane, and Steve Russell, Augusta; two daughters, Linda Armstrong, Ponca City, Okla., and Karen Stiner, Newton; three sisters, Katherine Setter and Ada Winder, both of Humboldt, and Anna Ripper, Farmington, N.M.; 13 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, five stepgrandchildren and one stepgreat-grandchild.

Gladys Adams
Gladys A. Alexander Adams, 95, retired teacher and homemaker, of Winfield, formerly of Kiowa and Hazelton, died Nov. 5, 1997, in Winfield.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Community Baptist Church in Hazelton. The Rev. Bradley Daniels will officiate. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery at Hazelton.
Friends may call at Fisher Funeral Home in Kiowa from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday and 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday.
Adams was born Sept. 7, 1902, in Woods County, Okla., then Oklahoma Territory, to Howard Fred and Mary E. (Nichelson) Utt.
On March 31, 1930, she married Carl Alexander. He died June 17, 1964.
In March 1970 she married Ralph Adams. He died in June 1990.
Survivors include a son, Dean Alexander, Hazelton; two daughters, Shirley Hart, Sunnyvale, Calif., and LaDonna Long, Haysville; a sister, Lois Elson, Wichita; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

John Mecham
WILBURTON, Okla. - John Asa Mecham, 89, of Wilburton, formerly of Udall and Wichita, died Nov. 3, 1997, at Latimer County Hospital in Wilburton as the result of injuries received in an automobile accident.
Services were held at 2 p.m. Nov. 7 in Star Valley Cemetery northeast of Udall. 
A memorial has been established with the American Cancer Society. Contributions can be made through Miles Funeral Service of Winfield.
Born June 28, 1908, in Udall, Mecham was a son of Wesley Grant and Clara Belle (Bentley) Mecham. Raised and educated in Udall and western Oklahoma, he began farming as a youth. He also began his career as a carpenter as a young man.
A veteran of World War II, he served with the U.S. Army in the Philippines and other campaigns in the South Pacific.
On Dec. 30, 1957, he married Rosie Lee Thornton at Ardmore, Okla. They resided for many years in Wichita and Bentonville, Ark. He was employed as a machinist for Boeing Aircraft and retired as a machinist for Atco Sign Co. in Wichita.
His wife died in 1984. Mecham had resided at Mena, Ark., and Talihina, Okla., for a number of years before moving to Wilburton in August.
He was a member of the Baptist Church.
Survivors include a son, Samuel William Mecham, Mena, Ark.; two daughters, Janet Sue Mecham, Talihina, Okla., and Clara Lee Thames, McRae, Ga.; two brothers, Sam Mecham, Mena, Ark., and Charles Mecham, Parsons; a sister, Gladys Smith, Canon City, Colo.; and nine grandchildren.


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