Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
LaNeeta Lowe
LaNeeta D. Lowe, 53, of Wichita, mother of Troy Lowe of Bel Aire, died Sept. 10, 2001. She was a homemaker. Service was Sept. 15 at Broadway Mortuary.
Other survivors include her husband, Floyd; sons, Shane, Mical, both of Wichita; daughters, April Calloway, Charity Lowe, Tammy Lowe, LeNora Lowe, all of Wichita; brothers, Joe Raybourn Jr., Michael Raybourn, both of Boise, Idaho; sisters, Pat Luce, Judy Wells, Linda Phares, all of Wichita, and 12 grandchildren.
Memorials have been established with First Bible Baptist Church and the LaNeeta D. Lowe Memorial Fund in care of Bank of America.
Leonard Lee Rickard
Leonard Lee Rickard, 72, of Milpitas, Calif., died Saturday, Sept. 15, 2001.
He was born Feb. 8, 1929, to Perry and Estelle (Little) Rickard in Wichita. He was a graduate of Valley Center High School and the University of Colorado.
He was the treasurer of the International Mensa, and regional vice chairman for the western region of Mensa. He was instrumental in forming many Mensa groups in the United States.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Rosemary, and his parents.
He is survived by his wife, Susie Lester-Rickard of Milpitas, Calif.; three daughters, Sandra Wingert of Lakewood, Colo., Treva Flint of Englewood, Colo., Karen Hancock of Colorado Springs, and a son, Bradley Rickard of Palisade, Colo.; three sisters, Carol Allen of Victoria, Texas, Nina Leshley of Summerfield, Florida, Edith Black of Comstock, Texas; a brother, Charles Rickard of Burkburnett, Texas; four grandchildren, eight nieces and eight nephews.
Paul Subera
Paul A. Subera, 74, of Caldwell, father of Sharyn Mayo of Valley Center, died Sept. 10, 2001. He was a retired farmer. Service was Sept. 13 at Caldwell United Methodist Church.
Other survivors include his wife, Dolores, and three grandchildren.
Memorials have been established with the church, Czechoslovakian Cemetery and South Haven United Methodist Church. Elliott-Schaeffer Mortuary had charge.
Wilma Wilson
Wilma Jean Wilson, 71, mother of Darrell Larson of Valley Center, died Monday, Sept. 17, 2001. Service is at 1 p.m. today (Thursday) at Resthaven Mortuary.
Survivors include her husband, Gordon of Oberlin; son, Randy Larson of Wichita; four stepsons; a stepdaughter; brother, Wilburn Bone of Shawnee, Okla.; sister, Ruth Oller of Wichita; five grandchildren; 11 step-grandchildren, and six step-great-grandchildren.
Memorials have been established with Gideon’s International of Wichita, Oberlin; Assembly of God, and SCCS Home Health and Hospice, P.A., Derby.
James Porter
James A. Porter, 67, of Chanute, stepfather of Cindy Grube of Park City, died Sept. 8, 2001. He was a retired Kansas Department of Transportation employee. Memorial service was Sept. 12 at Johnson Mortuary.
Other survivors include his wife, Judy Travis Porter; sons, James, Joel, both of Yates Center, John of Derby; daughters, Jolene Shepard of Myrtle Beach, S.C., Jana Porter of Kansas City, Mo.; brother, Charles of Cedar Vale; sister, Reatha Hoke of Chanute; 12 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
A memorial has been established with Red Cross.
Mae Pannell
Mae Bell Pannell, 71, of El Dorado, mother of Elliott Pannell of Kechi, died Sept. 4, 2001. She was a retired Great Plains Charter and Wesley Medical Center director of environmental services. Service was Sept. 10 at Progressive Baptist Church.
Other survivors include her husband, A.W.; daughter, Estella Shaw of Augusta; brother, Levi Levels of Gary, Ind.; sisters, Willie Forbush of Kansas City, Mo., Ira Titchenor of Wichita; nine grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
Jackson Mortuary, Wichita, had charge.
Bertha Bastow
Bertha Irene Bastow, 90, of Wichita, aunt of Connie Bader of Valley Center, died Aug. 28, 2001. She was a homemaker. Private family service was held.
Other survivors include a niece, Marlene Moore of Wichita.
Broadway Mortuary had charge.
Charles Shepler
Charles Harold Shepler, 91, of Peabody, father of Joyce DuBois of Valley Center, died Sept. 6, 2001. He was a retired Santa Fe Railway extra gang foreman. Service was Sept. 8 at Prairie Lawn Cemetery, Peabody.
Other survivors include his son, Wesley of Newton; daughters, Patsy Guthrie of Orlando, Fla., Virginia Guthrie of Houston; sister, Ruth Burkholder of Peabody; 11 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Marilyn Needham
Marilyn D. Needham, 60, of Knoxville, Tenn., sister of Jackie Brown of Valley Center, died Sept. 4, 2001. Service was Sept. 7 at Mynatt’s Chapel with Dr. Steve Sallee and Rev. Stephen DeFur officiating. Burial was at Washington Pike Presbyterian Cemetery.
She was born Sept. 4, 1941, the daughter of R.D. and Lucille Gatton. She was a member of Cokesbury United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by a brother, Leland Gatton, and her parents.
Other survivors include her husband, Fred M. Needham; sons and daughter-in-law, Fred. Jr. and Pamela Needham, John Needham of Nashville; sister, Roberta Valent of Kansas; brother, Virgil Gatton of Kansas; sister-in-law, Karen Kramp; stepmother, Faye Gatton; granddaughters, Carson and Quinn Needham, and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial has been established with the church, 9908 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, Tenn. 37922-3397.
Tommy Ging
Tommy Lee Ging, 52, of Valley Center, Southwestern Bell service representative, died Sept. 11, 2001. Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday. Service is at 10 a.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church with Rev. Robert Louden officiating. Burial will be at 4 p.m. Saturday at Pleasant View Cemetery, Dacoma, Okla.
He was born April 21, 1949, in Blackwell, Okla., the son of Hubert Eugene Ging and Betty Murrow. He married Joyce Howard (Obenhaus) on Dec. 12, 1993, in Park City. She survives of the home. He was preceded in death by his father.
Other survivors include his mother of Blackwell, Okla.; sons, Wesley Ging of Fort Benning, Ga.; stepson, Michael Howard of Parsons; daughters, Vanessa McClure of Wichita, Rose Ging of Emporia; stepdaughters, Lynne Fulkerson, Marsha Mitchell, both of Erie; sister, Earlene Kreutzer of Wichita; nine step-grandchildren, and two step-great-grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with American Diabetes Association. Baker Funeral Home has charge.
Brian Owen
Brian L. Owen, 41, of Wichita, son of Lloyd and Edith Owen of Park City and brother of Doris Owen of Kechi, died Nov. 17, 2001. He was a machinist. No local service.
Other survivors include a brother, Alan Owen of Wichita.
Watson Funeral Home had charge.
Frank Becker
Frank Leroy Becker, 54, of Furley, farm laborer, died Nov. 10, 2001. Service is pending.
Survivors include his aunt, Viola Eck of Dallas; niece, Lacy Becker of Bartlesville, Okla.
Bob Lamb Funeral Home, Whitewater, had charge.
Grover Kile
Grover “G.B.” Kile, 78, of Lyons, father of Mary Jo Leckington of Valley Center, died Nov. 17, 2001. He was a retired Enron Corp. welder and maintenance foreman. Service was Tuesday at Sillin Funeral Home.
Other survivors include his wife, Louise; sons, Don of Morris, Ill., Lyndel of Humble, Texas; brothers, Clyde of Beaver, Okla., Gene of Greensburg; sisters, Eilene Fisher of Kaufmann, Texas, Wanda Stokes of Elko, Nev., Robert Kauk of Leedey, Okla.; six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Memorials have been established with Hospices of Rice and Reno counties.
Harold Creasser
Harold L. Creasser, 75, of Sedgwick, father of Glenna Butcher of Valley Center, died Nov. 19, 2001. He was a Cessna Aircraft Co. upholsterer. Service is at 10 a.m. Friday at Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Bentley.
Other survivors include his wife, Ruth; son, Wayne of Sedgwick; daughters, Belinda Creasser of Omaha, Cecelia Gwinup of Towanda; brother, Howard of Sarasota; sister, Beulah Arrowsmith of Bentley; 12 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with Hicks-Davison American Legion Post 268. Kaufman Funeral Home, Halstead, has charge.
James Rooney
James C. Rooney, 75, of Clearwater, father of Don Rooney of Valley Center, died Nov. 15, 2001. He was a retired Boeing Wichita sheetmetal mechanic. Service is at 10 a.m. Nov. 21 at Lakeview Funeral Home, Wichita.
He was preceded in death by his sons, Ronnie, Timothy Rooney; daughter, Linda Rooney; brother, Henry Leon Rooney, and sisters, Ora and Zora Rooney.
Other survivors include his wife, Alice; sons and daughters-in-law, James H. of Wichita, Steve and Norma of Clearwater, Keith and Sheri of Augusta, Dan of Haysville; daughter and son-in-law, Marie and Mike Cooper of Wichita; sister, Lora Glover of Guy, Ark.; 19 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.
Memorials have been established with Shriners Children’s Hospitals and American Diabetes Association.
Catherine Bohanan
Dated: October 04, 2001
Catherine Cole "Kate" Bohanan, 63, of Leon, formerly of Valley Center, died Oct. 2, 2001. She was a retired Larksfield Place residence service coordinator. Memorial service is at 10 a.m. Friday at Watson Funeral Home, Wichita.
Survivors include her husband, Jim; son, Eric Brown of Omaha; daughter, Jennifer Coffindaffer of Dallas, Amy Kitt of Wichita; brothers, Robert Cole of Houston, and two grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with Hospice Inc.
Catherine Dall
Dated: October 04, 2001
Catherine “Kay” Dall, 52, of Valley Center, B & S Aircraft purchasing and inventory control manager, did Sept. 28, 2001. Service was Oct. 1 at Watson Funeral Home, Wichita, with Pastor Robert Dalke of Buhler Mennonite Church officiating.
She was born Nov. 20, 1948, in Wichita, the daughter of Leonard Stanton and Frances Simkins. She married Jim Dall on June 29, 1968. He survives.
Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Daniel and Camie Dall of Valley Center; daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and Rustin Siemens of Buhler; parents, Leonard and Frances Stanton of Augusta; sister, Linda Stanton of Ocean Grove, N.J.; mother-in-law, Betty Dall of Derby; sisters and brothers-in-law, Cheryl and Mike Holder of Strong City, Randy and Marilyn Dall of Mulvane, Sandy and Frank Barnett of Derby; grandchildren, Allison and Cassidy Siemens of Buhler, Jacob Dall of Valley Center, and numerous nephews and nieces.
A memorial has been established with the church.
Emma Stillman
Dated: October 04, 2001
Emma Gene Stillman, 60, of Park City, homemaker, died Sept. 30, 2001. Service was Oct. 3 at Kechi Cemetery.
Survivors include her husband, Thayer Sr.; sons, Tracey Davis, Charles Stillman, Thayer Stillman Jr., Timothy Stillman, all of Wichita; daughter, Nellie Wood of Wichita; mother, Emma Ferrell of Wichita; brothers, Jimmy Ferrell of Hopkinsville, Ky., Harold Ferrell of Wichita; sister, Jewell Baskins of Wichita; 19 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
Cochran Mortuary had charge.
Jennifer Schmidt
Dated: October 04, 2001
Jennifer J. Schmidt, 50, of Wichita, Newton and Valley Center elementary and learning disability teacher, died Sept. 30, 2001. Rosary was Oct. 3 and service is at 10:30 a.m. today (Thursday), both at St. Jude Catholic Church.
She was a graduate of Iowa State University and received a master’s in learning disabilities from Wichita State University. She was preceded in death by her parents, Omer Gunderson and Corrine Stoll, and a brother, David Gunderson.
Survivors include her husband, Gregory; sons, Caleb, Ryan; daughter, Kelsey Schmidt, all of Wichita; brothers, John Gunderson, Marc Gunderson, both of Minneapolis, Minn.
Memorials have been established with the church, Hospice Inc. and Multiple Sclerosis Society. DeVorss Flanagan-Hunt Mortuary has charge.
Judy Andrews
Dated: October 04, 2001
Judy Landers Andrews, 53, of Pulaski County, Ark., mother of Jamey Crandall of Valley Center, died Sept. 25, 2001, after a battle with colon cancer. She was co-founder and vice president of marketing of Aircraft Acoustics Inc., an aircraft engineering firm based in Little Rock. Funeral service was Sept. 30 at Pulaski Heights Methodist Church.
She was born in Little Rock, Ark. She enjoyed traveling and studied literature.
Other survivors include her husband, Doug; son and daughter-in-law, Shawn and DeeAnn Crandall of Wichita; sister and brother-in-law, Pat and Leroy Lehman, daughters, Sabrina, Rebecca and her children Larry and Fallon, all of Wichita; sister, Deborah Landers of Steamboat Springs, Colo.; brother and sister-in-law, John Landers and Becky Grace, daughter Megan and son Spencer of Wichita; sister, Rebecca Landers, her son Andy and daughter Callie of Lompoc, Calif., and grandchildren, Carolyn and Dillon Crandall of Wichita.
A memorial has been established with Arkansas Hospice, Building 66, Room 65, 220 Fort Roots Drive, North Little Rock, Ark. 72214.
William Benton
Dated: October 04, 2001
William “Gib” Benton, 74, of Wichita, father of Carol Benton of Valley Center, died Sept. 29, 2001. He was a retired wheat mill worker. Service is pending.
Other survivors include his sister, Marge Wingert of Pacheco, Calif.; former spouse, Martha Benton of Cheney; one grandchild, and one great-grandchild.
Memorials have been established with Faith Community Church, 1750 N. Gow, Wichita, Kan. 67203, and American Diabetes Association, 837 S. Hillside, Wichita, Kan. 67211. Hillside Funeral Home West has charge.
Betty Simpson
Dated: October 19, 2001
Betty Stafford Simpson, 70, of Powell, Wyo., formerly of Valley Center, died Oct. 10, 2001. Memorial service was Oct. 17 at First United Methodist Church, Powell.
She was born Oct. 24, 1930, the daughter of Bob and Mildred Stafford. She attended Valley Center schools, graduating in 1948. She married Myron Simpson in 1949 and they moved to Midwest, Wyo., shortly afterward. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, brother Neal and sister Joy Hawkins.
Survivors include her son, Larry, grandson, Neal of Powell, and sister, Florence Hodge of Wichita.
