Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Capitola Pennington
Capitola Irene “Penny” Pennington, 72, of Valley Center, social service provider, died April 4, 2001. Service was April 7 at Resthaven Mortuary Chapel, Wichita.
She was preceded in death by her parents, James David Terry and Emma Adams, and a daughter, Judy Bakker. She married
Loyd Uell Pennington on May 3, 1944, in Corning, Ark. He survives. They lived in Taft, Mo. They moved to Wichita in 1950 and he worked at Beech Aircraft and she operated the Silver Dollar Café. Together they operated the Golden Age Care home until the early ’70s when they moved to Rockaway Beach, Mo., to operate Cap’s Dock and Café. They returned to Wichita in 1981 and worked in the social service field, for Pennington’s and Steps Inc., until their retirement. She was a charter member of four Missionary Baptist churches and was a member of Fellowship Missionary Baptist at the time of her death.
Other survivors include her sons, Ed Pennington, Joe Pennington, both of Valley Center, Floyd Pennington of Wichita, Ben Pennington of Maize; brothers, Arvel Terry of Naylor, Mo., Lloyd Terry, Harvey Terry, both of Arkansas; sister, Sarah Ivy of Galion, Ohio; 16 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial has been established with Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church.
Charlotte Hayward
Charlotte Hayward, 54, of Wichita, sister of Della Woodard of Valley Center, died April 2, 2001. She was a teacher. Service is pending.
Other survivors include her sons, Mark, Leavy, Allen, all of Milwaukee; daughters, Martha Stone, Angela Hayward, Sonya Hayward, all of Milwaukee; brothers, Leon Wheaton, Henry Wheaton, Isaac Wheaton, all of Wichita; sisters, Dora Comick, Dora Young, Dora Clemons, Catherine Hervey, all of Wichita, Jessie Ware of Oklahoma City, and eight grandchildren.
Jackson Mortuary has charge.
Marjorie Payne
Marjorie E. Payne, 67, of Wichita, mother of Wava Ruckle of Valley Center, died April 7, 2001. She was a homemaker. Service was April 12 at Resthaven Mortuary.
Other survivors include her husband, Albert; sons, Robert Smith of Kaplin, La., Lorn Smith, Tommy Smith, Mike Smith, all of Wichita, Jerry Smith of Lawton, Okla., Howard Smith of Prairie Grove, Ark.; daughter, Teresa Spear of Wichita; stepson, Buddy; stepdaughter, Donna Payne, both of Wichita; sisters, Grace Epperson of Marlow, Okla., Luella Fields of Wichita; 36 grandchildren, and 36 great-grandchildren.
Mildred Johnson
Mildred Larene “Midge” Johnson, 64, of Valley Center, clerk of the 18th Judicial Court for the State of Kansas, died April 6, 2001. Private family service, officiated by Dr. J. Tal Tittsworth, has been held, and private family burial was at Gridley.
She was born Aug. 29, 1936, in Gridley, the daughter of John Luthi and Gladys Sanders. They preceded her in death, as did a sister, Eva Williams. She married
Eugene F. Johnson on Sept. 21, 1957, in Gridley. He survives.
Other survivors include her son, Douglas E. Johnson of Wichita; daughter, Cheryl Keough of Castle Rock, Colo.; brother, Dale Luthi of Gridley; sisters, Laverne Eccles of Gridley, Thelma Black of Valley Center, and two grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with the American Cancer Society.
Robert Mellinger
Robert Dale “Bob” Mellinger, 67, of Valley Center, retired Excel Corp. human resources vice president, died April 6, 2001. Service was April 9 at First United Methodist Church.
He was born June 17, 1933, at his parents’ home in Lincoln, Neb., the son of Regina Esta and Oliver Leroy Mellinger. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Ronald Mellinger of Lansing, Mich.
He attended Lincoln public schools and later went to Nebraska Wesleyan University in 1951 and 1952, where he played football. He graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1955 with a bachelor’s in business administration. He married
Shirley Ann Murphy on Dec. 28, 1954, at Christ Methodist Church, Lincoln, Neb. He was drafted into the Army in December 1955, serving through September 1957. Most of his active duty was at Fort Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. He was discharged as a first lieutenant in May 1964.
He was administrative assistant and sales representative at Banker’s Life of Des Moines. In March 1965, he became plant personnel director for Iowa Beef Packers (IBP) in Dakota City, Neb. He moved to Amarillo, Texas, in January 1970 to work for Missouri Beef Packers (later known as Excel), and then Cargill. He was corporate personnel director until October 1971, when he was promoted to vice president of labor relations. He retired in November 1996, residing in Valley Center. He was the former director of Kansas Food Bank and Kansas Chapter of the Urban League, and was a Wichita Botanica volunteer. He also was a member of Masonic Lodge 110 in Des Moines, Scottish Rite in Sioux City, Iowa, Midian Temple of Wichita and the Nebraska Alumni Association. He and his wife were volunteers for Kansas Special Olympics.
Other survivors include his daughter and son-in-law, Lori and Jim Hawk of Carrollton, Texas; sons and daughters-in-law, Steve and Julee Mellinger, Bob and Tina Mellinger, all of Wichita, David and Chris Mellinger of Valley Center, Michael Mellinger of Plainview, Texas; sisters and brother-in-law, Wanda Thorn of Lincoln, Neb., Linda and Doyle Stalker of Golden City, Mo.; 18 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
Memorials have been established with Kansas Special Olympics and Hospice Inc.
Virginia Metzger
Virginia “Lucille” Metzger, 87, of Valley Center, produce grower and cook for local restaurants, died April 10, 2001. Service was April 11 at Pleasant Valley cemetery, Bentley.
She was born Feb. 14, 1914, in Bentley, the daughter of Samuel Wilson and Sophia Miller. She married
Arthur Johnson in 1930 in Bentley. He preceded her in death. She married
Francis Metzger of Valley Center in 1975. He survives. She also was preceded in death by a daughter, Charlene Stephens, and four brothers, Leonard Wilson, Everet Wilson, George Wilson and Albert Wilson.
Other survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Evan Garland and Glynna Johnson of Wichita; daughter, Beverly Mittman of Ramona, Calif.; brother, Robert Wilson of Las Vegas; sister, Geneva Wilson of Newton; eight grandchildren, and 21 great-grandchildren.
Baker Funeral Home had charge.
Alan Branson
Alan Dale Branson, 46, of Keller, Texas, formerly of Valley Center, died Feb. 20, 2002. He was a manager of technical services for the Grapevine, Texas, police department. Service was Feb. 23 at First Baptist Church of Grapevine.
Survivors include his wife, Nancy, daughters, Kristen Fears, Katelyn Branson; mother, Inez Branson of Valley Center; brothers, Ronald Branson of Wichita, Kenneth Branson of Valley Center, Vernon Branson of Olathe, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorials have been established with Habitat for Humanity or the donor’s choice.
Carl Nicholson
Carl L. Nicholson, 54, of Aurora, Colo., brother of Connie Lee of Valley Center, died Feb. 15, 2002. He was a retired Boeing electrical engineer. Service was Feb. 22 at Riverside cemetery, Denver, and a memorial service was Feb. 23 at First Congregational Church, Maize.
He was born Feb. 19, 1947, the son of Gene and Cecile Nicholson of Maize. He was a 1966 graduate of Maize High School and attended the University of Kansas and Wichita State University, where he graduated in 1973. His hobbies included sculpting, flowers, poetry, horseshoes and long-distance running. He ran in the Boston Marathon, enjoyed competing and still was actively running just prior to his death. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Marvin, formerly of Wichita, and Robert, formerly of Salina, and sisters, Glenda “Gee-Gee,” formerly of Maize, and Donna Frazier, formerly of Valley Center. He was a former resident of Salina, Wichita and Huntsville, Ala.
Other survivors include his wife, Lin of Aurora; daughters, Jennifer Nicholson of Nashville, Tenn., Brenda Mills of Shreveport, La., Heather Maynard of Meridianville, Ala., Amanda Nicholson of Huntsville, Ala.; brothers, Charles of Maize, John of Wichita; sisters, Freida Woodruff of Kansas City, Mo., Nancy Grover of Wichita, Jennie Baker of Kaw City, Okla., Linda Pennington of Sedgwick, and grandchildren, Brianna Mills, Mark Maynard.
A memorial has been established with track and field scholarship fund, in care of Boeing Wichita Credit Union, 2900 S. Oliver, Wichita 67210.
Mary Jones
Mary Tippin Jones, 87, of Wichita, mother of Karen E. Kraus of Valley Center, died Feb. 19, 2002. She was a homemaker. Service is at 10 a.m. Friday at Resthaven Mortuary, Wichita.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William Arthur Jones, and a son, Col. Charles Edward Jones.
Other survivors include her sons, Arthur E. Jones of Burke, Va., Christopher Jones of Hutchinson; daughters, Sue Held of Dayton, Ohio; brother, Ernest E. Tippin Jr., M.D., of Estes Park, Colo.; five grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with SCCS Home Health and Hospice PA, 1410 N. Woodlawn, Derby 67037.
Melvin Dorrah
Melvin E. Dorrah, 85, of Wichita, grandfather of Kristi Smith of Kechi, died Feb. 23, 2002. He was a retired Boeing electrician. Service was Feb. 26 at Resthaven Mortuary, Wichita.
Other survivors include his daughters, Donna R. Dennis of Bethany, Okla., Shirley K. Comes of Wichita; grandchildren, Craig Wohlschlegel of Shawnee, Okla., Jeffrey Wohlschlegel of Copan, Okla., Roger A. Staley of Towanda, Todd Staley, Tracy Burress, both of Wichita; 13 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.
Michael March
Michael A. “Mike” March, 41, of Valley Center, Boeing Wichita maintenance employee, died Feb. 20, 2002. Service was Feb. 23 at Resthaven Mortuary, Wichita.
Survivors include his wife, Diane; son, Christopher of Topeka; daughters, Christina March of El Dorado, Carly March of the home; mother, Bernie March of Haysville; brothers, David March, Ronald March, both of Park City, Frank March of Ponca City, Okla., and sister, Rhonda Rongey of Wichita.
A memorial will be established at a later date.
Robert Mullins
Robert Lee Mullins, 72, of Wichita, father of Randal Mullins of Valley Center, died Feb. 23, 2002. He was a retired U.S. Postal Service letter carrier. Service was Feb. 27 at Valley Center Christian Church with Pastor Doug Fraley officiating. Burial was at Kechi cemetery.
He was born Sept. 19, 1929, in Stella, Neb., the son of Clyde Edward Mullins and Opal Surprise McDougal. He married
Barbara L. Baldwin on May 24, 1950, in Salem, Neb. She survives of the home. He was preceded in death by his father and a sister, Naomi Wiebel.
Other survivors include his son, Jerold Mullins of Princeton, Minn.; daughter, Linda Shepherd of Lansing; mother, Opal Hollenbach of Falls City, Neb.; brothers, Bill Mullins of Falls City, Neb., Don Mullins of Salem, Neb., Jerry Mullins of Ames, Iowa; sisters, Phyllis Davis of Atlantic Beach, Fla., Karen Kanatzar, Dixie Trusty, both of Kingman, Ariz., and seven grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with the church building fund. Baker Funeral Home had charge.
Sylvia Wilbur
Sylvia B. Wilbur, 91, of Wichita, mother of Bill Wilbur of Valley Center, died Feb. 24, 2002. Service was Feb. 26 at Downing & Lahey Mortuary West Chapel and Feb. 27 at West Side Christian Church.
She was a lifetime west-side Wichita resident and a member of West Side Christian Church since 1927. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 57 years, Myrnon; son, Robert; son-in-law, Claude Foltz; daughter-in-law, Betty Wilbur, and sister, Vera McGregor.
Other survivors include her daughter, Myrna Foltz of Wichita; 13 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren.
Memorials have been established with the church, 1819 W. Douglas, Wichita 67213, and Good Samaritan Fund, in care of Presbyterian Manor, 4700 W. 13th, Wichita 67212.
Viola Turner
Viola Lois Mullins Turner, 84, of Valley Center, homemaker, died Feb. 21, 2002. Service was Feb. 26 at First United Methodist Church. Burial was at Kechi cemetery.
She was born May 14, 1917, in Wichita, the daughter of John Thomas Mullins and Leona Ethel DeVore. She married
Leon Jacob Turner on Aug. 7, 1938, at Wichita. She was preceded in death by her parents; an infant daughter, Ramona Turner; brothers, Wilbur Mullins, John Thomas Mullins and Kenneth Mullins, and sisters, Vera Schnoor, Eleanor Blaisdell and Wanda Mullins.
Survivors include her sons, Carl Turner, Kent Turner, Tom Turner, all of Valley Center; brother, Lee Mullins of Wichita; sister, Hazel Barkley of Littleton, Colo.; 11 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with Hospice Care of Kansas. Baker Funeral home had charge.
Jean Matson
Jean L. Matson, 79, of Augusta, brother of Lonnie Matson of Valley Center, died Feb. 3, 2002. He was a Boeing machinist. Service was Feb. 6 at Hillside Funeral Home, Augusta.
Other survivors include his wife, Virginia; son, Ivan Matson of Tulsa, Okla.; daughter, Brenda Church of Beaumont, Texas; brother, Milton Matson of Gilford, Wash., and one grandchild.
A memorial has been established with Leon Senior Center Building Fund, 111 S. Main, Box 308, Leon, Kan. 67074.
Marvin Allen
Marvin Granville Allen, 82, of Altamont, father of Marilyn Mooney of Valley Center, died Feb. 5, 2002. Visitation is from 7 to 8 tonight (Thursday) at Bath Funeral Home, Altamont. Service is at 1 p.m. Friday at Fairlawn cemetery, Hutchinson, with Rev. Bobby Massey officiating.
He was born June 23, 1919, at West Mineral, the son of Albert Ray Allen and Jennie Mae Francis. He married
Virginia Rae Scates on March 27, 1937. She died Feb. 27, 1989. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He worked for Southwestern Bell in Cherryvale, Hutchinson and Independence, retiring after 42 years of service.
Other survivors include his son, Ronald Lee Allen of Tampa, Fla.; daughters, Margaret Sue Renfro of Altamont, Jennie Brown of Pittsburg; 11 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with Dennis United Methodist Church, in care of the funeral home, Box 325, Altamont.
