Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Merle W. Tomey
CHETOPA - Merle W. Tomey, 96, of Chetopa died at 8:11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 3, 2003, at Labette County Medical Center in Parsons.
He was born Sept. 7, 1907, in rural Bartlett to William Francis and Cecilia (Foster) Tomey. He attended Baylor School. He farmed with his father and retired from farming.
He was a former member of Grange and served on the school board for Hackberry School District. He was a member of First Christian Church of Chetopa.
He enjoyed fishing and hunting. He was a lifetime resident of the Chetopa area.
He married Grace Marie Davis on Dec. 10, 1927 in Oswego. She preceded him in death on March 17, 1989.
Survivors include five daughters, Mildred Blackledge of Chetopa, Dorothy Martinez of Salt Lake City, Irma Jean Albin and her husband, Frank, of Grove, Okla., Marlene McCoy of Commerce, Okla., and Martha Rooney and her husband, Charles, of Columbus; 13 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; nine great-great-grandchildren; one brother, Lloyd Tomey of Chetopa; and one sister, Wilma Wilson of Chetopa.
He was preceded in death by one brother, Hal Tomey; one sister, Nellie Harris; and a grandson, Johnny Blackledge.
The service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Bath Funeral Home in Chetopa with the Revs. Raymond Whetstone and Stan Rumbaugh officiating. Burial will be in Lake Creek Cemetery, rural Bartlett. Friends may call after 10 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, where family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m.
Memorials to First Christian Church or to Faith Baptist Church of Chetopa may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, Box 346, Chetopa, 67336.
Cecil O. Tower
SUN CITY, Ariz. - Cecil O. Tower, 96, of Sun City, a Parsons native, died at 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 23, 2003, at Boswell Memorial Hospital in Sun City.
He was born in Parsons on Dec. 27, 1906, to Byron D. Tower and Zueetta (Livesay) Tower. He graduated from Parsons High School. His family were members of the former Washington Avenue Methodist Church in Parsons.
He graduated from Pittsburg State University in 1927. He later earned a M.S. degree from Toledo University, Toledo, Ohio, and did additional graduate work at Cincinnati University.
He taught mathematics at Point Place, Ohio, and at Manchester College in Iowa.
In 1930, he became director of vocational education and director of research for the Cincinnati public schools. He held that position until 1963.
From 1963 to 1965 he was on the staff of Cincinnati University and from 1965 to 1971 he worked in educational research at Ohio State University, Columbus. From 1971 to 1973 he worked in educational research at Northern Arizona University.
He was a member of the St. Christopher Episcopal Church in Sun City, the American Association of School Administrators, the American Vocational Education Association, the Ohio Vocational Association and had served as president of the Ohio Schoolmasterıs Club. He had also served on the Advisory and Editorial Board of the American Technical Society. He had served as a consultant for the U.S. Department of Census for Vocational Education and as a consultant for the American Education Research Association, Phi Delta Kappa, Iota Lambda Sigma and the Cincinnati Mathematical Society. He was past president of the Sun City Cancer Society, the Ohio Club of Sun City and the Valley of the Sun Questers Club of Sun City.
He married Ivah Eaton of Chanute on Dec. 29, 1927. She preceded him in death on Sept. 29, 1967. He married Esther E. Buechler on June 5, 1971, at Cincinnati. She preceded him in death on Dec. 21, 1990.
Survivors are a niece, Donna Kay Veigel of Peoria, Ariz; and a cousin, Marvin Tower of Parsons.
Also preceding him in death was a sister, Hazel Tower Faulkner.
The service was Wednesday at the Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Parsons with the Rev. Paul Hett officiating.
Carson-Wall was in charge of the arrangements.
Stella M. Tullis
CHETOPA - Stella M. (Peck) Tullis, 90, of Chetopa, a longtime Welch, Okla., resident, died at 9:55 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 3, 2004, at Chetopa Manor after an illness.
She was born Aug. 19, 1913, in North Miami, Okla., to John H. and Mary F. (Wright) Peck. She was a graduate of Commerce High School.
She married Loyd Tullis on Nov. 19, 1938, in Neosho, Mo. They owned and operated a farm near Welch. He preceded her in death on Oct. 4, 2003.
She was a member of Welch Baptist Church.
Survivors include one son, Dale Tullis and his wife, Linda, of rural Welch; one daughter, Shirley Lester and her husband, Bill, of Welch; five grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and 11 nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by four brothers and a stillborn daughter.
The service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Welch Baptist Church with the Rev. C.G. Gillmore officiating, assisted by Loyd Carder and Tim Perkins. Burial will be in Lake Creek Cemetery in Bartlett. Friends may cll from 7 to 8 p.m. today at Thomas Funeral Home in Welch.
Dot E. Turner
OSWEGO - Dot E. "Dottie" Turner, 88, of Oswego, a former Parsons resident, died at 8:05 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 15, 2004, at Oswego Home Place.
She was born March 9, 1915, in Bluejacket, Okla., to Walter W. and Josephine (Burris) Wilson and moved with her family to Parsons in 1921. She attended Parsons schools.
She married Omar K. Turner on Sept. 5, 1933, in Girard. They lived on a farm northeast of Parsons from 1933 to 1949 and then moved to Erie. In 1952 they returned to Parsons. He preceded her in death on Dec. 20, 1993. In 1994 she moved to Oswego to live in Westside Homes and then moved to Home Place in March 2003.
She had worked at the Tempter Bakery in Parsons for five years in the 1950s.
Survivors include a daughter, Norma Jean Lewellen and her husband, Albert, of Oswego; a grandson, Roland Lewellen and his wife, Christy, of Oswego; a great-granddaugther, Brenda Lewellen of Oswego; a sister, Betty Anderson of Winfield; a sister-in-law, Mary Lou Wilson of Nampa, Idaho; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was also preceded in death by two infant sons; three sisters, Rhea Merwarth, Beulah Carter and Mary O'Hara; and two brothers, Wilford Wilson and Charles Wilson.
The service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Carson-Wall Funeral Home with the Rev. Paul Wiand officiating. Burial will be in Springhill Cemetery south of Parsons. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. tonight at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Harry Hynes Hospice and may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, P.O. Box 942, Parsons.
Allen R. Ulbrich
GIRARD - Allen R. Ulbrich, 91, of Girard died at 12:13 p.m. Friday, July 25, 2003, at Heritage nursing home in Girard. He had been in failing health.
He was born on Nov. 10, 1911, in Furley to Robert and Maude (Stevens) Ulbrich. He grew up in Furley and attended a country school there. He began farming outside of Wichita and in 1948 moved to rural McCune, where he bought a farm and a dairy. When he retired in 1973 he moved to Girard.
He married Wanda Johnson on Nov. 10, 1947, in Augusta. She preceded him in death on July 25, 1997.
He was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church at Girard. He enjoyed gardening.
Survivors are a son and daughter-in-law, Vernon and Marla Ulbrich of Girard; a daughter and son-in-law, Rosemary and Jerry Simon of rural Girard; five grandchildren; one great-grandson; two brothers, John Ulbrich and Robert "Sonny" Ulbrich Jr., both of Valley Center; and a sister, Sarah Hawkins of Valley Center.
He was preceded in death by three brothers, Walter Ulbrich, Pat Ulbrich and Harley Ulbrich; and three sisters, Ruth Bolin, Leona Brannan and Luetta Rich.
The service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Girard with the Rev. Mark Wenzelburger officiating. Burial will be in Girard Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to the Girard Hospital District No. 1.
Robin Van Meter
PEACHTREE, Ga. - Robin Van Meter, 89, of Peachtree died Saturday, May 22, 2004, in Peachtree.
He was born Oct. 22, 1914, in Parsons to William James and Katherine (Arnold) Van Meter.
He retired from the Department of Interior after a career as a research chemist in air and water pollution and mine safety. After retirement, he lived in Pinellas County, Fla., with his wife of 50 years, Anne Ostasheksi Van Meter. She preceded him in death in 1994.
In 2003, he moved to Peachtree City, Ga., where he resided at Ashley Glen Assisted Living facility.
Survivors inlcude two sons, Keith W. Van Meter of New Orleans and Quentin L. Van Meter of Peachtree; and eight grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held later with burial of the ashes at Oakwood Cemetery in Parsons.
Memorials may be made to any preferred hospice foundation.
National Cremation Society of Lilburn, Ga., is in charge of arrangements.
Gilbert R. Vaughn
LAWRENCE - Gilbert Russell Vaughn, 79, of Lawrence died Thursday, Dec. 11, 2003, at his home.
He was born Jan. 16, 1924, to Clyde Raymond and Lida Mae (Churchbaugh) Vaughn at Modesto, Calif. His family moved to Douglas County in 1925.
He graduated from Baldwin High School in 1941. After World War II, he served in the U.S. Army at Kokora, Japan.
He married Sarah B. Wilkinson on March 20, 1949, in Parsons. She survives of the home.
He was a licensed electrician.
He was a member of Worden United Methodist Church; Lawrence Masonic Lodge No. 6, A.F. and A.M.; Dorsey-Liberty American Legion Post 14; AARP; and the local and national chapters of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. He served as a committeeman for Boy Scout Troop 53 in Lawrence for many years.
Survivors include two sons, Michael Alan Vaughn of Arlington, Texas, and Bruce Edwin Vaughn of Knoxville, Tenn.
The service will be at 1:30 p.m. today at the Worden United Methodist Church, Worden. Burial will be in Worden Cemetery. Masonic rites will be conducted at the church before burial.
The family will meet friends at the church from noon until service time. Memorials to the Douglas County Visiting Nurses Association or the Worden United Methodist Church cemetery fund may be mailed to Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th, Lawrence, 66044.
Victor J. Vickers
LAMAR, Mo. - Victor Jack Vickers, 75, of Lamar died Thursday, April 1, 2004, at Barton County Memorial Hospital in Lamar after a long illness.
He was born Aug. 15, 1928, in Neodesha to James E. and Naomi Pearl (Fellows) Vickers. He graduated from Neodesha High School.
He married Ellen James on June 1, 1947. They were married 57 years. She survives of the home.
He was a superintendent of municipal power plants in Neodesha; Russell; Vernon, Texas; and Germantown, Wis.
He was active in Germantown Rotary Club, Kansas Municipal Utilities and First Baptist Church. He retired from Germantown, Wis., and moved to Angola, Ind., and then to Lamar.
Survivors include one son, Martin Vickers of Topeka; two daughters, Nancy Boxum of Angola and Virginia Jones of Ormond Beach, Fla.; eight grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and one brother, Donald Vickers of Blackwell, Okla.
He was preceded in death by one brother, Jimmy; two sisters, Loramae Calender and Ruth Gausman; and one daughter, Jill Maillard.
The service will be at 10 a.m. May 1 at First Baptist Church in Lamar.
Memorials to Jill Vickers Maillard Scholarship Fund at Neodesha High School can be mailed to Bath Funeral Home, Box 325, Altamont, 67330.
Juliana S. Villano
Juliana S. Villano, daughter of Robert Villano Jr. and Holly Oldfield of Parsons, was stillborn at 9:08 p.m. Monday at Labette County Medical Center in Parsons.
Survivors include her parents of the home; paternal grandmother Rachel Check and her husband, Scott, of Parsons; paternal grandfather Robert Villano Sr. and his wife, LeAnn, of New York; maternal grandfather Barney Oldfield and his wife, Judy, of Centralia, Ill.; maternal grandmother Mary Melissa Caupert of Mount Vernon, Ill.; paternal great-great-grandparents Jean and John Karr of New York; and paternal great-great-grandmother Mary Reyez of Fairmont City, Ill.
The service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Memorial Lawn Cemetery Patio with the Rev. Robert Wachter officiating. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery.
Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Kenneth E. Walker
OVERLAND PARK - Kenneth E. Walker, 91, of Overland Park died Thursday, June 17, 2004, in Overland Park.
He was born Sept. 26, 1912, in Joplin.
He worked at Kansas Ordnance Plant in Parsons during World War II and the Korean War.
Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth; two daughters, Betty Eccleston and Margo Franz; a son, Terry Walker; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
A private family service will be at D.W. Newcomer's Sons Johnson County Chapel. Burial will be in Johnson County Memorial Gardens.
Rick K. Wamsley
MANSFIELD, Texas - Rick Kendal Wamsley, 46, of Mansfield, formerly of Parsons, died on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2003, in Mansfield. He and his wife, Suzy, were victims of homicide.
He was born Aug. 30, 1957, in Pittsburg to Lewis and Marjane Wamsley. He moved to Parsons in 1959 and to Bartlesville, Okla., in 1968. He graduated from Sooner High School in 1975 and from Oklahoma State University in 1980 with a degree is accounting. He received his certified public accountant certificate in 1990.
He married Suzanna Lynn "Suzy" Dixon on July 13, 1978. They celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary this year. They lived in Stillwater, Okla., until they graduated from college. Then they moved to Houston, where he was employed by Shell Oil Co. In 1984 they moved to Salt Lake City, where he worked for UTEX. In 1987 they moved to Arlington, Texas, where he was employed by Meridian Oil Co. and KPMG. In 1995 he opened a CPA practice specializing in oil and gas litigation.
Survivors include one daughter, Sarah Elizabeth Wamsley; one son, Andrew Wesley Wamsley; one granddaughter, all of Mansfield; his parents, Lewis and Marjane Wamsley of Bartlesville, Okla., one brother, Rodney Wamsley of Houston; one sister, Kindra Ota and her husband, Kevin, of Wassenaar, The Netherlands; and five nieces and nephews.
The service will be at 2 p.m. Monday at First Presbyterian Church in Bartlesville with the Revs. Andrew Odom and Bob Bogue officiating. A private burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Rick and Suzy Wamsley Memorial Fund, c/o Arvest Bank, Attention: Stacey Copeland, P.O. Box 999, Bartlesville, Okla., 74005.
Stumpff Funeral Home of Bartlesville is in charge of the arrangements.
