Miscellaneous Ellsworth County, Kansas Obituaries

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Shirley J. Holt (1941-2002) 
ABILENE ‹ Shirley J. Holt, 61, died Sunday, May 19, 2002. Mrs. Holt was born Shirley J. Herbel on Jan. 28, 1941, in Dorrance. She had worked at Zey's Grocery Store, Abilene, and Dillons Grocery Store, Salina. She was preceded in death by her husband, Elton 'Shorty,² in 1995. Survivors include a daughter, Sondra Lindsey of Salina; a son, Justin of Abilene; a sister, Charlett Bruce of Wilson; a brother, Del Herbel of Salina; and three grandchildren. The funeral was May 23 at the First Baptist Church, Abilene. Burial was in the Abilene Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or the church in care of Danner Funeral Home, P.O. Box 758, Abilene 67410. 

Harold Dean Mlynar (1935-2002) 
LONG BEACH, Calif. ‹ Harold Dean Mlynar, 67, died Friday, May 17, 2002, in Long Beach. Mr. Mlynar was born Feb. 11, 1935, in Ellsworth, Kan. Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Mary Ann Pistora Mlynar; a daughter, Cheryl Stoneham; two brothers, Donald and Jack Mlynar; and two granddaughters. He was preceded in death by a son, Randy, in 1983. The family suggests memorials to the American Cancer Society or the Bethany Lutheran Church, 4644 Clark Ave., Long Beach, Calif. 90808. 

Robert J. "Bob" Rous (1915-2002) 
SALINA ‹ Robert J. 'Bob' Rous, 86, died Monday, May 20, 2002. Mr. Rous was born Oct. 19, 1915, at rural Claflin. He was twice elected sheriff of Saline county, serving from 1952-56 and 1960-64 and also served as Saline County undersheriff. He was a member of the First Christian Church, Salina, organized the Sunflower Junior Rifle Club in Salina in 1958, helped direct the design and planning of the 1962 update construction for the Saline County Jail and was awarded 'Peace Officer of the Year': in 1965. While sheriff of Saline County, he organized the 'Flying Deputies' who made emergency medical flights, transporting blood and medical supplies when necessary. He also was a pilot in the Civil Air Patrol and enjoyed fishing, hunting and flying. He married the former Mildred Alice Bryant on April 23, 1939. She preceded him in death in 1996. He also was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Rous and the former Mary M. Lanzl. Survivors include a special friend, JoJean Johnson of Salina; a son, David of Duluth, Minn.; two sisters, Loretta Handlin of Newton, N.C., and Maryann Taylor of Waldo; and a grandchild. The funeral was Friday at the First Christian Church, Salina. Memorials may be made to the Saline County Mounted Patrol and Rescue Squad or Salina Emergency Aid Food Bank. Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. Eighth, Salina 67401 was in charge of arrangements. 

John William Wydick (1929-2002) 
DIGHTON ‹ John William Wydick, 72, died Saturday, May 25, 2002, at his home in Dighton. Mr. Wydick was born June 22, 1929, at Jasper, Mo., to Clark and Vida Buzzard Wydick. He worked as a mechanic and in the circus and in the gold mines of Nevada and as a restaurant owner before moving to Dighton in 1985 and becoming an employee of the Lane County Road Department. He retired in 1997. He enjoyed fishing and traveling and was a member of the United Methodist Church. He married Esther Dechant April 21, 1969, at Hutchinson. She survives. Other survivors include a son, John Robert Wydick of Nampa, Idaho; two daughters, Mary Sevy of Nampa and Karen Britton of Ellsworth; two step-sons, Darrell Dechant of Hays and Ronald Dechant of Dighton; sisters sisters, Faye Shaw, LaVada Jones, Martha Miller and Vida Lee Anderson, all of Auburn, Wash., Edith Taylor of Carthage, Mo., and Shirley Newport of Wichita; three brothers, Frank Wydick of Columbus, Albert E. Wydick of Federal Way, Wash., and Lonnie Wydick of Cherokee; 14 grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, three brothers, a ste-daughter and a step-grandchild. The funeral was Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the Dighton United Methodist Church, the Rev. Lennie Maxwell officiating. Burial was in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery, Ness City. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society in care of Boomhower Funeral Home, Dighton. 

Samuel C. Rawdon (1944-2002) 
FREDONIA ‹ Samuel Craig Rawdon, 57, of Longton, died Friday, May 16, 2002, at his home. Mr. Rawdon, a former resident of Ellsworth County, was born Dec. 9, 1944, in Detroit, Mich. to James and Susie Cantrell Rawdon. He was graduated from high school in Weatherford, Okla., in 1962 and served in the U.S. Marine Corps until 1965. He received a bachelor's degree in education from Southwestern Oklahoma Sate University in 1968. Mr. Rawdon taught in Ulysses and at Wichita Heights High School while earning a master's degree from Wichita State University. He spent the next eight years as an educator and later administrator at Coffeyville Community College and Marymount College in Salina. He also served as principal at high schools in Coldwater and Scott City and as superintendent of the Lorraine-based USD 328, which also includes the communities of Wilson, Holyrood, Dorrance and Bushton, and the Elk Valley School District in Longton. He received a doctorate in higher education administration from Kansas State University in 1988. He was a member of the Community Christian Church of Longton. He married Linda Burkhalter in Hinton, Okla., on April 12, 1968. She survives. Other survivors include two daughters, Mindy Weixelman of Olathe and Alexa Rawdon of Longton; his mother, Susie Rawdon of Weatherford, Okla.; and a brother, James Rawdon of Kansas City, Kan. Graveside services were Wednesday in Sunset Cemetery in Manhattan, with Pastor Dave Sanchez of the Community Christian Church officiating. A memorial is planned at 1 p.m. Friday in the Elk Valley School gymnasium in Longton. Memorials may be made to the church, the Elk Valley Schools Secret Garden Project or the KSU Foundation-Leadership Scholarship Fund. in care of Timmons Funeral Home, P.O. Box 168, Fredonia, Kan. 66736. 

Sara E. Morford (1925-2002) 
LEEDS POINT, N.J. ‹ Sara E. Morford, 76, died Wednesday, May 15, 2002, at Via Christi Medical Center - St. Joseph, Wichita. Mrs. Morford was born Nov. 13, 1925, in Leeds Point to 'Capt.' Fred and Bessie Bowen Higbee. She was an inspector with the Lenox China Company in Pamona, N.J. before her retirement after 20 years. She was a member of the Leeds Point Community Church. She married Ralph M. Morford on Jan. 14, 1944, at Leeds Point. He died Dec. 27, 1997. Survivors include two sons, James R. Morford of Kanopolis, Kan., and Ronald Morford of Newton; a daughter, Cindy A. Calhoun of Wichita; a brother, James Higbee of Smithville, N.J.; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a brother, Edward Higbee and a sister, Marguerite Chambers. The funeral was Wednesday at the Emmaus United Methodist Church, Smithville, N.J., the Rev. Earnest Alexander officiating. Burial was in the Leeds Point Community Church Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Youth Horizons or the church cemetery. 

Joe E. 'Peppy Joe' Vocasek (1913-2002) 
WILSON ‹ An inurnment service for Joe E. "Peppy Joe" Vocasek, 88, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Wilson City Cemetery with military honors by the Wilson American Legion. Mr. Vocasek died Dec. 13, 2001. He was born June 5, 1913, at Wilson. He was a barber and lifetime supporter of his hometown. Survivors include his caregiver, Jean Kingston. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Emily Beran Vocasek and his wife, Dorothy Switzer Vocasek, who died Sept. 5, 1987. Memorials may be made to the Wilson Opera House in care of Rodrick & Minear Funeral Home, P.O. Box 188, Lucas, Ks. 67648. 

Lena T. Briggs (1905-2002) 
LINCOLN ‹ Lena T. Briggs, 97, died Tuesday, May 7, 2002. Mrs. Briggs was born Lena Castle on April 17, 1905, in Ash Grove. She was a retired homemaker. She was preceded in death by husbands John Modrow and John Briggs; a son, Roy Q. Modrow; a daughter, Lola M. Modrow Gleeson; and two grandchildren.. Survivors include three sons, Lee Modrow of Lincoln, Marvin Dale Modrow of Kanopolis and Lawrence B. Modrow of Farmington, N.M.; 13 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and 17 great-great-grandchildren. The funeral was Friday at Hall Funeral Home, 111 E. Elm, Lincoln. Burial was in the Lincoln City Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Lincoln Senior Center. 

Earl Z. Cook (1932-2002) 
KANOPOLIS ‹ Earl Z. Cook, 70, died Saturday, May 11, 2002, at Salina Regional Health Center. Mr. Cook was born March 28, 1932, in Cleveland County, N.C. to Clarence and Minnie Costner Cook. He lived most of his life in Kanopolis. As a young man, he was stationed in Salina with the U.S. Air Force and later worked for the St. Francis Boys Home. He was a member of Ellsworth VFW Post 6485. He married Mary C. Torrez Aug. 8, 1950, in Kanopolis. She died in 2001. He also was preceded in death by an infant son in 1957. Survivors include a son, Robert M. Cook of Chatham, La.; two brothers, Carmie Cook of Hickory, N.C., and Elbert Cook of Falston, N.C.; and a grandson. The graveside service was Tuesday at Kanopolis Cemetery with VFW military rites. Memorials may be made to the Ellsworth VFW post. 

Zelma Davis Langton (1936-2002) 
KANOPOLIS ‹ Zelma Davis Langton, 65, died Sunday, May 12, 2002, at Hutchinson Hospital. Mrs. Langton was born Oct. 3, 1936, at Paden, Okla., to George and Julia Orsburn Davis. In 1992, she moved from Lockhart, Texas, to Kanopolis, where she was a homemaker, owner of Langton Antiques, and author of the weekly Kanopolis Klips in the Ellsworth County Independent/Reporter. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Kanopolis. She married Robert O. Langton Oct. 13, 1952, in Cushing, Okla. He died in 1995. Survivors include two daughters, Elaine Langton of League City, Texas, and Ellen Maiorka of Lockhart; two sons, Robert R. of League City, and Charles of Austin; two brothers, Cleo Davis of Prague, Okla., and Cecil Davis of Paden, Okla.; two sisters, Marie Wilkens of Yukon, Okla., and Clarice Stone of Shawnee, Okla.; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The funeral was Wednesday (May 15) at 10 a.m. at Parsons Funeral Home, Ellsworth, the Rev. Gene Langhofer officiating. Burial was in Kanopolis Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the church. 

Margaret Little (1913-2002) 
KANOPOLIS ‹ Margaret Little, 88, died Monday, May 13, 2002, at the Ellsworth County Medical Center. Mrs. Little was born Sept. 19, 1913, in Ellsworth County to Dale and Emma Shoemaker Green. She was a lifetime resident of Ellsworth County, where she was a homemaker and a member of the First United Methodist Church. She married Harold J. Little March 20, 1935, in Salina. He died in 1977. She also was preceded in death by grandsons Scott and Jeff Essick and a sister, Faye Schafer. Survivors include two daughters, Janice Essick of Kanopolis and Marjorie Payne of Bossier City, La.; a sister, Velma Westerman of Ellsworth; three grandchildren, Sherry Eddy of Plattsburg, Mo., Ed Payne of Spring, Texas and Jerry Payne of Mansfield, Texas; five great-grandchildren; and four step-great-grandchildren. The funeral is 2 p.m. today (Thursday) at Parsons Funeral Home, the Rev. Gene Langhofer officiating. Burial will be in Buckeye Cemetery, rural Kanopolis. Visitation was from 1 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and from 8 a.m. to service time today at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the church or the Ellsworth County Historical Society.

Alfred W. Ramsey Sr. (1912-2002) 
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas ‹ Alfred William Ramsey Sr., 89, died Thursday, May 9, 2002. Mr. Ramsey was born Nov. 4, 1912, in Ellsworth, Kan. Survivors include his wife, Janette Eunice Boerum Ramsey; a son, Alfred William Ramsey Jr. of Canyon Lake; a daughter, Elizabeth Ann Schneider of Bartlett, Tenn.; four sisters, Betty Losick, Donna Van Bunnen and Anita Otter, all of Salina, Kan., and Patsy Carnahan of Wichita, Kan.; a brother, Joseph of Salina; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The funeral was Monday at Seaside Chapel, 4357 Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi, Texas, 78412. Burial was in Seaside Memorial Park. 

Esther Faye Schroeder (1906-2002) 
DALLAS, TEXAS ‹ Esther Faye Schroeder, 96, died Sunday, May 12, 2002, in Dallas, Texas. Mrs. Schroeder was born Nov. 25, 1906, in Claflin, Kan. She and her husband, the late Arthur Schroeder, moved to Holyrood, Kan. after their marriage. She was a homemaker and lived in Holyrood until 1996. She was a member of the St. Paul United Church of Christ and the women's guild. She contributed her tatting treasures to the St. Paul bazaar each year and had just finished an altar cloth before her death. Survivors include a daughter, Joan Walker, and her husband, Stuart of Carrollton, Texas; three grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. The funeral will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at the St. Paul United Methodist Church in Holyrood. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the church. Memorials may be made to the church. 

Martha Ann Van Gundy (1926-2002) 
SALINA ‹ Martha Ann Van Gundy, 75, died Tuesday, May 7, 2002. Mrs. Van Gundy was born Martha Ann Gibson Sept. 3, 1926, at Great Bend. She was a homemaker who lived in Ellsworth from 1966-90. She was graduated from the University of Kansas in 1948 and was a member of AAUW, hospital auxiliary, AACBL and Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority. She was preceded in death by a son, Steven, in 1950; a brother, Carl Gibson; and her parents, Arthur S. and Ellen Gibson. Survivors include her husband, Richard G. of the home; two daughters, Sue Kruger and husband, Glenn, of Austin, Texas, and Diane Van Gundy of Mansfield, Texas; and two grandchildren. The funeral was Friday at the Sunrise Presbyterian Church, Salina. Burial was in the Great Bend Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the church. 

Anna Marie Bender (1917-2002) 
SUNRISE BEACH, Mo. ‹ Anna Marie Bender, 84, died Wednesday, May 2, 2002, at the Lake of the Ozarks General Hospital. Mrs. Bender was born Nov. 17, 1917, at Holyrood, Kan. to Charles and Louise Henke Kootz. She was a former resident of Ellsworth, Kan. and Chanute, Kan. She had lived in Sunrise Beach since 1970, where she was a retired vice president of Lakeland State Bank, past president of the American Legion Auxiliary and member of the Business and Professional Women and the Kent Memorial Lutheran Church. She married Gordon H. Bender Sept. 14, 1941, at Holyrood. He died in 1994. Survivors include a son, Roger Bender of Wichita; a daughter, Barbara McPherson of Shawnee, Kan.; and two grandchildren. The funeral was Monday at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Ellsworth, Pastor Harold Bender Jr. officiating. Burial was in Ellsworth Cemetery. Parsons Funeral Home, Ellsworth, was in charge of arrangements. 

Inez V. Crandall (1911-2002) 
TOPEKA ‹ Inez V. Crandall, 90, died Friday, May 3, 2002, at a Topeka hospital. Mrs. Crandall, a former Ellsworth resident, was born July 31, 1911, in Burdick to Carl William and Hulda Erickson Smith. She took piano lessons from Professor Oscar Lungren at Bethany College, Lindsborg, and also gave piano lessons. Mrs. Crandall also received a cosmetologist's license before going to Wichita and working for Buck Aircraft Co. during World War II. In 1947, she married Lester Crandall, who taught vocational agriculture for 30 years. He survives. She gave private piano lessons and taught in four rural schools. Between 1964 and 1972, she worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service. In 1978, the Crandalls moved to Atwood and later to Paola and then Topeka. She was preceded in death by a sister, Vera Smith; and three brothers, Dale, Ivan and Glen Smith. Other survivors include two sons, Philip G. Crandall of Fayetteville, Ark. and Randy L. Crandall of Topeka; a daughter, Pamela S. Willcott of Linwood; and 13 grandchildren. The funeral was Tuesday at Community Church, Topeka. Burial was in Hebron Lutheran Cemetery, Burdick. Memorials may be made to Gideons International or the Community Missionary Fund. Newcomer Family Funeral Home, 4020 SW 6th Ave., Topeka 66606 was in charge of arrangements. 

Thomas L. Dinges 1931-2002 
NESS CITY ‹ Thomas L. Dinges, 70, died Monday, April 29, 2002, at the Ness County Hospital, Ness City. Mr. Dinges was born May 18, 1931, at Ness City to Christian and Appolonia Meis Dinges. He was a lifetime resident of Ness City, where he was a farmer and a member of the Sacred Heart Church and the American Legion. He also was a veteran of the Korean War. He married Juanita Kessler Aug. 28, 1956, at Martienthal. She survives. Other survivors include a son, Darren Dinges of Ness City; three daughters, Sherry Waler of Ness City, Verllinda Kraft of Kaw City, Okla. and Brenda Boese of Brownell; a brother, Joe Dinges of Ness City; a sister, Rita Kisslinger of Concordia; and 10 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Elmer and Demas; and a sister, Clee Boyer. The funeral was May 2 at Sacred Heart Church, Father Gregory LeBlanc officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Memorials may be made to the cemetery or to Ness County EMTs in care of the Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City. 

Helen M. Dinkel (1910-2002) 
PHILLIPSBURG ‹ Helen M. Dinkel, 91, died Friday, May 3, 2002. Mrs. Dinkel was born Helen M. Bauck on July 28, 1910, in rural Wichita County. She was a retired cook and baker in a restaurant. She was preceded in death by a son, Walter, three grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild. Survivors include two sons, Frank of Holyrood and John of Huntsville, Ala.; two daughters, Barbara Stoecklein of Phillipsburg and Mary Ann Emery of Stockton; four brothers, Joseph Bauck, George Bauck and Clement Bauck, all of Garden City; two sisters, Margaret Wiesner of Leoti and Lucille Page of Albany, Wis.; 20 grandchildren; 53 great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren. The funeral was Monday at the St. Anthony Catholic Church, Leoti.. Burial was in St. Theresa Cemetery, rural Wichita County. Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, was in charge of arrangements. 

Carrie Lee Pekarek (1930-2002) 
GREAT BEND ‹ Carrie Lee Pekarek, 72, died Sunday, April 28, 2002, at the Central Kansas Medical Center-St. Rose Campus, Great Bend. Mrs. Pekarek was born Jan. 22, 1930, at Gorham to Alois and Cecelia Lederhos Mermis. She was a retired secretary for Brougher Oil, Inc. and the Lorraine School District. In 1974, she moved from Holyrood to Great Bend. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary 200 at Holyrood and the VFW Auxiliary of Russell and attended the Catholic Church. She married Kenneth H. 'Bud' Pekarek June 16, 1947, at Gorham. He survives. Other survivors include two sons, Kent L. of Shawnee and Kevin G. of Ellinwood; a brother, Emanul Mermis of Crane Hill, Ala.; four sisters, Lucille Strecker of Denver, Colo., Norma Kite and Alice Walker of Great Bend and Betty Ingram of Manhattan; and five grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Alois 'Shirty' Mermis and Cletus 'Pete' Mermis and a sister, Isabel Cornell. The funeral was May 1 at the Bryant Funeral Home, Great Bend, the Rev. Dick Ogle officiating. Burial was in Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery, Great Bend. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association. Bryant Funeral Home of Great Bend was in charge of arrangements. 

Louise 'Irish' Soukup (1923-2002) 
HUTCHINSON ‹ Louise "Irish" Soukup, 78, died Tuesday, April 2, 2002, at Dillon Living Center, Hutchinson. She was born July 2, 1923, at Larned to James and Minerva Barnett Shea. She was a graduate of Marymount Academy and Marymount College, Salina. She was a retired teacher, having served at schools in Wilson, Victoria, Hays and Hutchinson. She was a member of the Holy Cross Catholic Church, Hutchinson. She married Joseph D. Soukup at Wilson June 6, 1947. He died in 1984. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Joseph Shea and Albert 'Irish' Bruggeman. Survivors include two sisters, Marcella Spreier of Larned and Imogene Klenke of Hutchinson; and several nephews and nieces. The funeral mass was April 5 at the Holy Cross Catholic Church, with Father Brian Bebak officiating. Burial was in Memorial Park Cemetery, Hutchinson. 


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