Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Pearl Wedeman
COLONY -- Pearl Wedeman, 90, formerly of Colony, died Friday, Jan. 5, 2001, at a Garnett hospital. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel in Colony.
She was born Aug. 9, 1910, in Carlyle, the daughter of Edward H. and Ethel F. Hyde Powell. She graduated from Colony High School and lived in Colony for more than 50 years.
Mrs. Wedeman was a member of Colony United Methodist Church, Colony Senior Citizens and the Colony Extension Homemakers Unit.
She married Leslie Albert Wedeman on May 26, 1931, in Lone Elm. He preceded her in death.
Survivors include four sons, Floyd Wedeman, Yakima, Wash., Wilbur Wedeman, Overland Park, Wendell Wedeman, Garnett, and Kenneth Wedeman, Lawrence; a daughter, Eileen Callaway, San Diego; a brother, Cecil Powell, Colony; seven grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Burial will be in Geneva Cemetery in Geneva. Mrs. Wedeman will lie in state after noon Monday at the funeral chapel, where visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to Colony United Methodist Church, Colony Senior Citizens or the Colony Extension Homemakers Unit and sent in care of the funeral chapel.
Aubrey Crosby
OGDEN -- Aubrey A. Crosby, 93, Ogden, died Friday, Jan. 5, 2001, at a Manhattan senior community.
Mr. Crosby worked in the federal civil service packing and crating department at Fort Riley, and farmed and operated a Coin-O-Matic Laundry in Ogden for many years. He was a Navy veteran of World War II.
He was born Sept. 14, 1907, in Junction City, the son of Scott and Lillie May Allm Crosby. He lived most of his life in Ogden.
Mr. Crosby was a member and past commander of Ogden Post No. 207 of the American Legion.
He married Geneva May Howard on Aug. 27, 1927. She died Jan. 31, 1971. A son, Herbert H. Crosby, died Aug. 13, 1994.
Survivors include a daughter, Geraldine Bluthardt, Ogden; a sister, Goldie Kocourek, Martin, S.D.; four grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Chapel in Manhattan. Burial will be in Ogden City Cemetery. Relatives and friends will meet from 7 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Kansas State University Foundation for the Center for Basic Cancer Research and sent in care of the funeral home.
Melvin Bowersox
BELLEVILLE -- Melvin L. Bowersox, 73, Belleville, died Friday, Jan. 5, 2001, at a Belleville hospital.
Mr. Bowersox was a manager for Southwestern Bell Telephone for 36 years.
He was born July 15, 1927, in Concordia. He lived in Concordia, Mankato and Manhattan before he moved to Belleville.
Mr. Bowersox was a member of St. Edwards Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus Council in Belleville, the National Rifle Association, NCK Artists Association and Delta Fine Arts.
He married Dorothy Roberts on May 19, 1949. She survives.
Other survivors include two sons, Dan Bowersox, Mankato, and Mark Bowersox, Salina; a daughter, Julian Anderson, Olathe; and five grandchildren.
Mr. Bowersox was preceded in death by a son, Neil Bowersox, and four daughters, Marilyn, Jane, Mary and Teresa.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Edwards Catholic Church in Belleville. Burial will be in Concordia Cemetery. Mr. Bowersox will lie in state from noon to 9 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday at Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home in Belleville.
Contributions may be made to the Melvin L. Bowersox Memorial Fund to be designated by the family later and sent in care of the funeral home.
June Donahoe
CLYDE -- June Donahoe, 83, Clyde, died Thursday, Jan. 4, 2001, at a Clyde nursing home.
Mrs. Donahoe was a receptionist in the medical office of Dr. Warren S. Freeborn Jr. in Clyde. She earlier had worked for Lynch Grain Co. in Salina.
She was born Jan. 16, 1917, in Dorrance, the daughter of Joseph Weber and Jessie Crabtree. She graduated from Sacred Heart High School in Salina.
Mrs. Donahoe was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Clyde and several area bridge clubs.
She married John E. Seaman on Sept. 2, 1939, in Salina. He died June 24, 1943. She married Joseph G. Donahoe on Aug. 1, 1948, in Salina. He died Oct. 11, 1995. Mrs. Donahoe also was preceded in death by a daughter, Janis Seaman.
Survivors include a daughter, Judy Racette, Mattoon, Ill.; two sisters, Genevieve McCance, Chandler, Ariz., and Bernice Pickerill, Clyde; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Clyde. Mrs. Donahoe will lie in state after 2 p.m. Sunday at Chaput Mortuary in Clyde, where a parish rosary will be recited at 4 p.m. She will lie in state after 6 p.m. Sunday at the church, where a vigil service will be at 7 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the National Parkinson Disease Foundation and sent in care of the mortuary.
Lowell Gish
BALDWIN CITY -- Lowell Arthur Gish, 73, Baldwin City, died Thursday, Jan. 4, 2001, at a Lawrence hospital.
Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the First United Methodist Church. Inurnment at Oakwood Cemetery near Baldwin City will be private. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Osborne Chapel on the Baker University Campus.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Lowell Gish Memorial Fund to benefit the Education Department at Baker University and sent in care of Lamb-Roberts-Heise Funeral Home in Baldwin City.
Fredrick Griswold
MARYSVILLE -- Fredrick "Fred" Griswold, 96, Marysville, died Thursday, Jan. 4, 2001, at a Marysville hospital.
Mr. Griswold farmed northwest of Marysville for 33 years. He also was the sale barn yard superintendent, and he worked in automobile parts sales for 14 years. He worked in small-engine repair in later years. Mr. Griswold also was a big band trap drummer for many years and played throughout Kansas and the Midwest.
He was born Sept. 12, 1904, in Marshall County, the son of George and Rose Griswold.
Mr. Griswold was a member of the Evangelical United Church of Christ, where he was Sunday school superintendent and sang in the choir for 50 years. He also was a member of the Marysville Masonic Lodge, York Rite and Musicians Union.
He married Charlote "Lottie" Kloxin on Feb. 15, 1928. She died July 4, 1998.
Survivors include two sons, Charles Griswold and Robert Griswold, both of Marysville; two daughters, Evelyn Guydos, Marysville, and Laura Loaney, Cramberry Township, Pa.; a sister, Esther Carlson, Scottsdale, Ariz.; 16 grandchildren; 42 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Evangelical United Church of Christ in Marysville. Burial will be in the Marysville City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday at Kinsley Mortuary in Marysville.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Evangelical United Church of Christ and sent in care of the mortuary.
Ruth Acridge
YATES CENTER -- Ruth E. Acridge, 83, Yates Center, died Thursday, Jan. 4, 2001, at a Wichita hospital.
Mrs. Acridge and her husband farmed and raised livestock in Woodson County.
She was born March 5, 1917, in Osage County, the daughter of Harry E. Stout and Elida F. Gleason. She was raised in Osage County, Mrs. Acridge was a longtime member of a bowling league at the Yates Center Bowl.
She married J.E. "Joe" Acridge in November 1936. He died in 1986. Mrs. Acridge also was preceded in death by two children.
Survivors include a daughter, Joan Drake, Yates Center; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the Sira Cemetery northwest of Yates Center. Mrs. Acridge will lie in state from noon to 8 p.m. Sunday at Campbell Funeral Home in Yates Center.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Fund and sent in care of the funeral home.
Dorothy Kingsley
Dorothy L. Whiteman Kingsley, 75, Topeka, died Thursday, Jan. 4, 2001, at a Topeka hospital.
Mrs. Kingsley worked at the Supply Depot at Forbes Air Force Base in Topeka in the 1950s and for several Topeka area restaurants.
She was born in Silver Lake, the daughter of Thomas and Celestia Entsminger Whiteman. She graduated from Silver Lake High School in 1943 and lived in Illinois from 1961 until she moved back to Topeka in 1978.
She married John Kingsley on June 13, 1958, in Topeka. He survives.
Other survivors include a son, Ronnie W. Bailey, Topeka; two brothers, Roland Whiteman, Silver Lake, and Francis Baker, Buena Vista, Colo.; two grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Davidson Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silver Lake Cemetery. Mrs. Kingsley will lie in state from 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday and after 8 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. Visitation will be from 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Silver Lake Senior Citizen Center and sent in care of the funeral home.
Virginia Wilhelm
Virginia M. Wilhelm, 74, Seneca, died Thursday, Jan. 4, 2001, at a Hiawatha hospital.
Mrs. Wilhelm was a cook at the Prairie Lounge in Seneca for many years, and she had provided in-home care for the elderly in the area.
She was born Feb. 27, 1926, in Kelly, the daughter of Joseph B. and Gertrude Waller Wilhelm. She attended St. Augustine's School at Fidelity and later the Oak Grove School east of Seneca.
Mrs. Wilhelm was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Church, St. Ann's Altar Society at the church, the Loyal Christian Benevolent Association and the Nemaha County Historical Society, where she had served on the board. She also did volunteer work for the Mission Center in Seneca.
She married Lester Wilhelm on Jan. 3, 1945, at Seneca. He survives.
Other survivors include four sons, Wayne Wilhelm, Junction City, Bob Wilhelm, Topeka, Dale Wilhelm, Seneca, and Tom Wilhelm, Hiawatha; a daughter, Charlene Collom, Topeka; a brother, Kenneth Lehmkuhl, Seneca; two sisters, Mildred Hermesch, Seneca, and Jeanette Barkley, Uhrichsville, Ohio; 14 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Wilhelm was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Lori Collom, on Jan. 19, 1998.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Seneca. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Mrs. Wilhelm will lie in state after 3 p.m. today at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca, where a rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. There will be a vigil prayer service at 7 p.m. Sunday.
Memorial contributions may be made to Sts. Peter and Paul School or for the Mission Center, both in Seneca, and sent in care of the family.
Charles Wahle
JUNCTION CITY -- Charles P. Wahle, 65, Junction City, died Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2001, at a Junction City hospital.
Mr. Wahle farmed in Geary County.
He was born April 21, 1935, in Junction City, the son of John and Roma Hill Wahle. He graduated from Junction City High School and was a lifelong Junction City resident.
Mr. Wahle was preceded in death by a daughter.
Survivors include a daughter, Christine W. Johnson, Telluride, Colo.; his mother, Roma Wahle; a sister, Jeannette Fansler, Junction City; a brother, Courtney Wahle, Junction City; and two grandchildren.
Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary's Cemetery in Junction City.
Johnson Funeral Chapel in Junction City is in charge of arrangements.
Florence Vernon
CENTRALIA -- Florence Marie Vernon, 96, Centralia, died Thursday, Jan. 4, 2001, at a Seneca hospital.
She was born Sept. 27, 1904, near Centralia, the daughter of Charles Kimball and Gertrude Knipher Kimball. She attended a country school north of Centralia. She lived in Texas from 1940 to 1990, and she had been a bookkeeper for the Harris County Courthouse before she retired. She lived in Houston and Conrow, Texas, before she moved back to Centralia in 1990.
She married Lee Newton Vernon on Aug. 18, 1923, in Topeka. He survives.
Other survivors include a son, William Vernon, Fallbrook, Calif.
Mrs. Vernon was preceded in death by a son, Richard Vernon, in 1983.
Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Centralia Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to First Congregational United Church of Christ in Centralia or to the Centralia Library and sent in care of Hayes-Popkess Funeral Home in Centralia.
Effie Stephenson
MUSCOTAH -- Effie Elizabeth Stephenson, 87, Muscotah, died Friday, Jan. 5, 2001, at a Horton nursing home.
She was born Feb. 18, 1913, in Knox, Ind., the daughter of Corneilus and Ollie Johnson Owens.
She married Paul D. Stephenson on June 9, 1934, in Falls City, Neb. He died June 9, 1934.
Survivors include two sons, Darrell Stephenson and Danny Stephenson, both of Muscotah; a daughter, Sally Blunt, Holton; a brother, James Owens, Powhattan; three sisters, Elva Palmer, Powhattan, Virginia Hersh, in West Virginia, and Eva Chilson, Everest; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Dishon-Maple-Chaney Mortuary in Horton. Burial will be in the Muscotah Cemetery. Visitation will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday at the mortuary.
Contributions may be made to the Effie Stephenson Memorial Fund to be designated later and sent in care of the mortuary.
