Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Christine Darter
Dated: May 20, 2002
Christine Simonsen Darter, 85, of Valley Center, died May 12, 2002. She was a retired Valley Center elementary school cook. Service is at 1 p.m. today (Thursday) at First United Methodist Church. Burial will be at El Paso Cemetery, Derby.
She was born June 21, 1916, in Derby, the daughter of Chris Simonsen and Hazel Sorenson. She married Thomas C. Darter on Dec. 24, 1937, at Newton. He preceded her in death, as did her parents and a brother, Bufford Hall.
Survivors include her son, Robert Darter of Sedgwick; daughter, Patricia Rogers of Suitland, Md.; brother, Bill Simonsen of Oklahoma City, Okla.; sister, Clara Chambers of Rogers, Ark.; grandsons, Richard Rogers of Fort Sill, Okla., Thomas Rogers of Suitland, Md., Christopher Darter of Sedgwick; granddaughters, Katherine Mack of Waldorf, Md., Jennifer Wirt of Spokane, Wash., Shonda Briestensky of St. Charles, Mo., Lindsey Darter of Sedgwick, and nine great-grandchildren.
Memorials have been established with the American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association. Baker Funeral Home has charge.
Gene Manning
Dated: May 20, 2002
Gene William Manning, 79, a resident of Medicalodge of Goddard, grandfather of Tammy Lies and great-grandfather of Christien Lies, both of Kechi, died May 6, 2002. He was a former Fredonia resident and custodian in the Fredonia public schools. Service was May 11 at First Assembly of God Church, Fredonia, with Rev. Howard Ansel Rice and Rev. Max Manning officiating. Burial was in Fredonia City Cemetery with military rites by VFW Post 3018 and 5962.
He was born Nov. 11, 1922, in Ava, Mo., the fourth of 10 children born to William Gaddison Manning and Alpha Mae Hardcastle. He was a World War II Army veteran, serving from 1940 to 1945. He was in the medical corps, primarily in the South Pacific, and was awarded the Purple Heart, Silver Star, Bronze Star and Good Conduct Medal. He was a member of First Assembly of God Church in Fredonia and VFW Post 3018. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Gearl Manning; sister, Wilma Peak Hestand, and great-grandson, Luke Patrick Kraus.
Other survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Linda Manning of Stafford, Va.; daughters and sons-in-law, Jeannie and Eddie Webber, Vicki and Michael Morgan, all of Wichita; brothers, Max of Topeka, Billie of Branson, Mo.; sisters, Geneva Toon, Sybil Beard, Julia Adams, all of Fredonia, Katherine Mayfield of Topeka, Patsy Rice of Omaha, Neb.; grandchildren, Ryan, Valerie and Lindsey Weatherby, Kelli Carpenter, Matthew and Michael Webber, all of Wichita, Lori Kraus of Colwich, Jeni and Sara Manning of Stafford, Va.; great-grandchildren, Stacy, Katie, Jesse Kraus of Colwich, Ashli, Cole, Cade and Alexia Weatherby, Zachary and Kaylee Weatherby, all of Wichita, and former wife, Nadine Manning of Wichita.
Timmons Funeral Home, Fredonia, had charge.
Joseph Wilson Jr.
Dated: May 20, 2002
Joseph Alexander Wilson Jr., 92, of Valley Center, retired accounting cashier for Rock Island Railroad, died May 14, 2002.
Visitation is from 5 to 7 tonight (Thursday) at Baker Funeral Home Chapel. Service is at 10 a.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church. Burial will be at Kechi Cemetery, Kechi.
He was born May 17, 1909, in Whitewater, the son of Joseph A. Wilson and Frances Meade. He married Ruth E. Kallenbach on Aug. 16, 1935, at Arkansas City. She survives.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Paul Wilson, two sisters, Ruth Kallenbach and Thelma Wilson, and a great-grandson, Branson Wilson Moore.
Other survivors include his daughters and sons-in-law, Nancy and Les Anderson, Judy and Jerry Gariepy, both of Valley Center; Carolyn Mason of Wichita; sons and daughters-in-law, Lloyd and Judy (White) Wilson of Enid, Okla., Joseph A. and Mary Lou (Eck) Wilson III of Mulvane; sister, Helen Lewis of Wichita; 16 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with the church.
Linis Fitzpatrick
Dated: May 20, 2002
Linis E. “Fitz” Fitzpatrick, 82, of Wichita, father and father-in-law of Jimmie and Vickie Fitzpatrick of Valley Center, died May 9, 2002. He was a retired McConnell Air Force Base welding shop civil engineer. Service was May 13 at Resthaven Mortuary, Wichita.
He was preceded in death by a son, Herbert; four brothers, and one sister.
Other survivors include his wife of 53 years, Ethel; daughter-in-law, Lynna Fitzpatrick-Chesney of Olathe; grandchildren, Shannon Baker of Glenwood Springs, Colo., Heather Fitzpatrick of Wichita, Bruce and Lee Fitzpatrick, both of Olathe, and great-grandchildren, Destiny Fitzpatrick, Colin Baker, Caitlin Baker, Katherine Koepke, Cody Shaw.
A memorial has been established with Moose Lodge 138, 10005 E. Kellogg, Wichita, Kan. 67207.
Max Purkey
Dated: May 20, 2002
Max Leon Purkey, 76, of Park City, National By-Products truck driver, died May 13, 2002. Service was May 15 at Hillside Cemetery, Sedgwick.
He was born June 18, 1925, in rural Valley Center, the son of Jerry Gerald Purkey and Vida Nichols. He married Myrtle Robbins on Oct. 15, 1943, at Long Beach, Calif. She preceded him in death, as did his parents and four brothers, William Albert, Victor, Donald and Wesley Purkey.
Survivors include his daughters, Marcia Scott of Park City, Leslie Stewart of Wichita; son, Martin Purkey of Wichita; six grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with Hospice Care of Kansas. Baker Funeral Home had charge.
Wilma Webb
Dated: May 20, 2002
Wilma O. Webb, 92, of Madison, mother of Wilma Miller of Valley Center, died May 8, 2002, at Sedgwick Health Care Center, Sedgwick. She was a homemaker. Service was May 13 at First Baptist Church, Madison, with Rev. Bobby Massey officiating. Burial was at Number Eight Cemetery east of Madison.
She was born Nov. 14, 1909, in Green, the daughter of Willie and Imo Jane Baer Walker. She lived most of her life in the Madison community, moving to Sedgwick Feb. 27, 2000. She attended Victory Fellowship in Emporia and First Baptist Church in Madison. She married Taylor Sells and they divorced. She married Charles C. Webb in 1968 in Wichita. He preceded her in death on June 21, 1980. She also was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Imo Lillian Sells; a brother; two sisters, and one great-great-grandson.
Other survivors include her daughters, Lila Straw of Sedgwick, Marjorie McShane of Conway, Mo.; son, Clifford Sells of Menifee, Calif.; brothers, Clifford Walker of Sedgwick, Leroy Walker of New Waterford, Ohio; sister, Gladys Pittman of Chatsworth, Calif.; 10 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren, and seven great-great-grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with Valley Center Assembly of God Missions Department, in care of Wilson Funeral Home, Box 488, Madison, Kan. 66860.
Alma Morisset
Dated: May 24, 2002
Alma Mae Phillips Morisset, 74, of Valley Center, homemaker, died May 18, 2002. Service and burial were May 21 at Sunnydale Park Cemetery.
She was born Oct. 17, 1927, in Long Beach, Calif., the daughter of John E. Phillips and Ertie J. Robinson. She married Glen H. Morisset.
Survivors include her daughter, Donna Hubbard of Valley Center; sons, Marvin Morisset, Denzel Morisset, both of Wichita, Dale Morisset of Ava, Mo.; 10 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren.
Baker Funeral Home had charge.
Almeda Graves
Dated: May 24, 2002
Almeda Grace Graves, 82, of Valley Center, homemaker, died May 16, 2002. Service was May 20 at Riverlawn Christian Church, Wichita. Burial was at Oxford Cemetery.
Survivors include her sons, Dean of Oxford, Stan of Laguna Woods, Calif.; daughters, Joyce Smalley of Tulsa, Teresa Graves of Valley Center; nine grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with the American Heart Association. Oxford Funeral Service, Oxford, had charge.
Bill Botts
Dated: May 24, 2002
Bill Raymond Botts, 59, of Valley Center, aircraft instrument purchasing manager for Spirent Systems Wichita Inc., died May 18, 2002. Service was May 22 at First United Methodist Church. Burial was at Hillside Cemetery, Sedgwick.
He was born June 16, 1942, in Wichita, the son of Raymond Botts and Lucille Miller. He married Ellen Barbee on Aug. 27, 1982, at Miami, Okla. She survives. He was preceded in death by his father.
Other survivors include his sons, Brian Botts of Valley Center, Brad Botts of Overland Park; daughter, Brenda Tatman of Wichita; stepsons, Tom Orr of Wichita, David Orr of Burlington, N.C.; brother, Howard Botts of Valley Center; sisters, Darlene Richards of Valley Center, Kathy Baker of Elsmore; mother, Lucille Botts of Valley Center, and nine grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with Special Olympics. Baker Funeral Home had charge.
Hattie Campbell
Hattie Lola Jennings Campbell, 85, of Valley Center, homemaker, died May 22, 2002. Visitation 4 to 6 p.m. May 24 at Baker Funeral Home Chapel, Valley Center. Service 10 a.m. May 25 at Calvary Baptist Church, Valley Center.
She was born Aug. 19, 1916, in LaCrosse, Ark., the daughter of John Jennings and Grace Wiles. She married Sherman Campbell on Aug. 19, 1937, at Melbourne, Ark. He preceded her in death, as did her parents, a brother, Junius Jennings, and three sisters, Johnicie Jennings, Marian Jenkins and Nadine Copeland.
Survivors include her daughter, Shirley Rundell of Valley Center; son, Danny Campbell of Edmonds, Wash.; brothers, Eugene Jennings of Sage, Ark., Ancil Jennings of Wichita; sister, Lenora McDaniel of Augusta; nine grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
Natalie Klusener
Dated: May 24, 2002
Natalie Ann Klusener, infant daughter of Matthew Troy and Carol Ann Klusener of Valley Center, died May 15, 2002. Service was May 18 at Central Christian Church, Wichita. Burial was at Kensington Gardens.
Other survivors include her brother, Bryant Klusener, sister, Nicole Klusener, both of the home; grandparents, Darrell and Shirley Steele of Topeka, Chuck and DeLaine Klusener of Franklin, Tenn., and great-grandparents, Ralph and Mildred Steele of Goff; Gene and Verna Markham of Topeka, Warren and Sylvia Klusener of Hutchinson.
A memorial has been established with Choices Medical Clinic, 538 S. Bleckley, Wichita 67218-2402. Broadway Mortuary had charge.
Roy Lee Blake
Dated: May 24, 2002
Roy Lee Blake, 45, of Valley Center, Sanitation Sewer Service employee, died May 20, 2002. Visitation from 4 to 6 p.m. May 23, service 2 p.m. May 24, both at Baker Funeral Home Chapel, Valley Center. Burial at Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Bentley.
He was born Jan. 24, 1957, in Wichita, the son of Lee Roy Blake and Estelle Staniford. He was preceded in death by his mother and a brother, Charles Lee Blake.
Survivors include his father, Lee Roy Blake of Valley Center; brother, Robert Blake of Valley Center, and sister, Charlotte Barnoski of St. Louis, Mo.
Sharmen Carter
Dated: May 24, 2002
Sharmen Edman Carter, 75, of Valley Center, retired Elixir fabricator, died May 21, 2002. Visitation 7 to 9 p.m. May 23, service 10 a.m. May 24, both at Baker Funeral Home Chapel, Valley Center. Burial at Burrton Cemetery, Burrton.
He was born Nov. 4, 1926, in Galatia, Ill., the son of George Carter and Madge Harris. He married Dolores Powell on June 9, 1948, at El Dorado. She preceded him in death, as did his parents, a son, Carl Carter, and two brothers, James and Russel Carter. He served in the U.S. Army.
Survivors include his sons, Shermen E. Carter of Gardner, Ill., Jim Carter of Greeley, Colo., Dennis Carter of Newton; daughter, Mary Pickering of Newton, formerly of Valley Center; brother, Luther Carter of Wilmington, Ill.; sister, Mary Luthers of Kankatee, Ill.; 10 grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established with SCCS Health and Hospice of Derby.
Glen Kraus
Dated: May 30, 2002
Glen Raymond Kraus, 57, of Wichita, brother of Greg Kraus and James Kraus, both of Valley Center, died May 26, 2002. He was a retired Printing Inc. printer. Service was May 29 at White Chapel Memorial Gardens.
Other survivors include his mother, Leona of Colwich; brothers, Harlen, Michael, both of Colwich, and sisters, Kathleen Reida of Cheney, Doris Gorges, Karla Harp, both of Colwich.
A memorial has been established with Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice.
Marion Burke
Dated: May 30, 2002
Marion E. Bainter Burke, 80, of Wichita, mother of David Burke of Valley Center, died May 23, 2002. She was a retired Beech Aircraft Corp. office clerk. Service was Tuesday at University United Methodist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ray F. Burke, and a granddaughter.
Other survivors include her son, Mike Burke of Derby; daughters, Carol Kelpin of Topeka, Marjory Sardou of Marion, Cathy Martin of Wichita; 10 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established with Lutheran Braille Workers Work Center, No. 71, in care of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 600 N. Greenwich Road, Wichita 67206. DeVorss Flanagan-Hunt Mortuary had charge.
Fred Miller
Dated: April 13, 2001
Fred Thomas Miller, 77, of Valley Center, Derby Refinery coke unit supervisor and real estate broker, died March 29, 2001. Service was April 3 at First Baptist Church. Burial was at Hillside Cemetery, Sedgwick.
He was born Nov. 3, 1923, in Wichita, the son of Clarence A. and Mabel Edith Miller. He spent his childhood in various towns in Butler, Reno and Rice counties, graduating in 1941 from Chase High School. The family moved to Valley Center that summer. He attended Wichita University for a short time. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1943, where he trained as an aircraft carrier fighter pilot until his discharge after World War II in November 1945. He married Glenna Carnahan on Aug. 3, 1947, in Valley Center. She survives. He worked for Derby Refining Co., later Coastal Corp., from 1950 through 1988. He also sold real estate from 1968 to 1981, the last nine years for Fred Miller Realtors. He was an active member of First Baptist Church for more than 50 years.
Other survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Sandra Miller, daughter, Shelli Miller, both of Valley Center; brother and sister-in-law, Wayne and Rita Miller of Eaton Rapids, Mich., and three grandchildren, Emily, Jacob and Whitney Miller, all of Valley Center.
Memorials have been established with the church and Victory in the Valley. Baker Funeral Home had charge.
Harrison Bartel
Dated: April 13, 2001
Harrison Bartel, 80, of McPherson, brother of Richard Bartel of Valley Center, died March 28, 2001. He was a retired farmer and stockman. Service was March 31 at First Mennonite Church, McPherson.
Other survivors include his wife, Luella; son, Franklin of McPherson; daughters, Harriet Woelk of Goessel, Debra Shorman of McPherson; brother, Walter Bartel of Lehigh; sister, Mabel Plett of Wichita, and two grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with the church. Stockham Family Funeral Home had charge.
Mattie Stewart
Dated: April 13, 2001
Mattie I. Stewart, 91, of Topeka, mother of Helen I. Nickelson of Valley Center, died March 27, 2001. Graveside service is at 1 p.m. Friday at Memorial Park Cemetery, Topeka.
She was born June 30, 1909, in Cheyenne, Okla., the daughter of James Monroe and Ida Ellen Blosser Shelton. She was a 48-year Topeka resident. She married Clyde C.E. Stewart on Aug. 23, 1930, in Duncan, Okla. He preceded her in death on Jan. 5, 1966. She also was preceded in death by a daughter, June M. Coombs.
Other survivors include her sons, Albert J. Meeting Jr. of Topeka, Clayton E. Stewart of Grandview, Mo.; daughter, Bettie L. Markham of Murfreesboro, Tenn.; brothers, George Shelton of Ponca City, Okla., Floyd Shelton of Alexandria, La.; 10 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
A memorial has been established with Midland Hospice, 200 S.W. Frazier Circle, Topeka, Kan. 66606.
Virgil W. Borger
Dated: April 13, 2001
Services are at 2 p.m. Friday at Trinity Heights Methodist Church in Newton for Virgil W. Borger, 85, retired insurance agent and brother of Clarence Borger, formerly of Valley Center. Visitation was April 5 at Broadway Colonial Funeral Home. He died April 3.
Other survivors include his wife, Nellie of Newton; son, Terry of Loveland, Colo.; daughter, Jana Pace of Tallahassee, Fla.; two grandchildren and one step-grandchild.
Memorials have been established with Trinity Heights United Methodist Church and the Newton Lions Club.
