Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
PITTSBURG — Alva E. McNeely, 80, of rural Pittsburg, died at 11:10 p.
m., Thursday, July 1, 2010, at the St. John’s Regional Medical Center.
He was born Jan. 17, 1930, in Mindenmines, MO the son of James Pierce
and Lily (Smith) McNeely.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army on Jan. 30, 1947 in Ft. Riley, KS and was
honorably discharged July 14, 1948.
On June 9, 1951 he was united in marriage to Virginia Smith in Girard,
KS; she survives him of the home. Alva was a loving, caring husband,
father and grandfather. He devoted his life to his family.
Alva was a custodian for the Pittsburg Middle School for many years; he
also worked in Carpentry and for Dickey Clay.
He was an avid musician. He was a longtime member of the Old Time
Fiddlers, Pickers and Singers and also served on its State Board.
He was a member of the Countryside Christian Church. He thoroughly
loved gardening and always had enough to feed all the family and friends.
Additional survivors include a son, Alva Ward McNeely and wife Arlene of
Wyandotte, OK; three daughters: Judy Ann Vinardi and husband John of
Arma, Karen Elaine Wilkerson and husband Kenneth of Pittsburg, Ginger
Kathleen Owen and husband Michael of Girard; a brother: Loren McNeely
of Pittsburg; three sisters: Ida Moore of Shawnee Mission, KS, Violet
Robinson of Georgetown, TX and Darlene Pyle of Winfield, KS along with
16 grandchildren and 29 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Jimmy Dale
McNeely.
Graveside services will be 10 a.m., Wednesday, July 7, 2010 at the
CrockerCemeterywith Rev. Daryl Gaddy officiating. Friends are
requested to meet at theCemeteryfor the services. Family will receive
friends at the funeral home from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday evening. Flag folding
rites by the John F. Derby American Legion Post #43 of Frontenac.
Condolences may be let at www.bathnaylor.com. Memorials may be left
to Angels Among Us; these may be left at or mailed to the funeral home.
Services and arrangements are under the direction of the Bath-Naylor
Funeral Home, 522 S. Broadway, Pittsburg, KS
===
Betty Jane Esch, of Joplin, MO, formerly a long time resident of Pittsburg,
KS, died at 10:40am Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at home surrounded by
her family.
Betty was born on November 10, 1924 to Agnes (Hahn) and Michael
Caslavka in Waterloo, IA. She attended school in Mindenmines, MO.
Betty initially went to Stephens College and then completed her degree
in music at Barnard College in New York City. After graduation in 1946
she married
her high school sweetheart, John Esch. In 1956 they
returned to Pittsburg where they lived until moving to Georgetown, TX in
2002. After raising a family of four children, Betty returned to college at
PSU where she obtained a degree in special education.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents and brother John R.
Caslavka.
Survivors include her husband of 63 years John G. Esch, M.D.; sons
John Esch Jr., M.D. of Joplin, MO and Michael Esch of Ozark, MO;
daughters Linda Malmberg of Phoenix, AZ and Jennifer Esch of
Harrisburg, PA; along with 8 grandchildren and one great-grandson.
Mass of Christian burial will be 10:00am, Friday, July 2, 2010 at Our
Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church with Fr. Thomas Stroot as celebrant.
Burial will follow in Highland ParkCemeteryin Pittsburg, KS. The family
will receive friends from 7-8pm on Thursday, July 1, 2010 at Bath-Naylor
Funeral Home, 522 S. Broadway, Pittsburg, where a rosary will be recited
at 7:00pm. The family suggests expressions of sympathy be in the form
of memorials to the John and Betty Esch Endowment for Research in
Hereditary Disease at Creighton University or Our Lady of Lourdes
Catholic Church or a charity of your preference.
===
PITTSBURG — Arlene Ross, 60, of Pittsburg died at 9:40 a.m., Monday,
June 28, 2010, at her home.
She was born Oct. 6, 1949, in Pittsburg the daughter of Albert and Leona
(Benton) Gepford.
On July 29, 1968 she was united in marriage to Jerry Lakey. He preceded
her in death on July 9, 1983. She then married
Paul Junior Ross on Sept.
21, 1986; he survives of the home.
Arlene was a homemaker and also worked a short time for PSU in the
computer dept.
She attended the First Church of the Nazarene in Pittsburg.
Additional survivors include a daughter, Dena Patterson and husband
Will of Pittsburg, a son, Shawn Lakey and wife Brandy of Girard, a
stepson Tom Ross and wife Mardi of Leawood, MO, and a stepdaughter,
Tami Hurlbert and husband Mike of Pittsburg; nine grandchildren and
several nieces and nephews.She was preceded in death by her parents,
first husband Jerry Lakey, a brother, Ronald Gepford, and a sister,
Phyllis Moore.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Thursday, July 1, 2010, at the Bath-
Naylor Funeral Home with the Rev. Jim Sukraw officiating. Burial will follow
in the Crocker Cemetery. Family will receive friends at the funeral home
on Wednesday evening from 6-8 pm. Condolences may be left at www.
bathnaylor.com . Services and arrangements are under the direction of
the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home 522 S. Broadway Pittsburg, KS.
===
PITTSBURG — Gale L. Chastain, 61, of Pittsburg, KS died at 7:20 p.m.
Sunday, August 22, 2010, at Freeman Hospital in Joplin, MO following a
long illness.
Gale was born November 9, 1948 in El Dorado, KS the son of Dale and
Georgie Colleen (Davis) Chastain. He moved to this area from Eldorado,
KS. Gale was a veteran of the United States Airforce.
On December 22, 1968 Gale married
Colleen Fitzgerald in El Dorado,
KS; she survives at the home.
Gale worked as an Electrical Estimator from Westar for over 30 years.
Gale was of the Christian Faith; he loved fishing, hunting, family and the
great outdoors.
Survivors include his wife; children Stacey Mingori and husband Zeb of
Pittsburg, KS and James Chastain and wife Shannon of Asbury, MO;
sister Yvonne Kepler of Eldorado, KS; grandchildren Aubrey, Brad,
Shyenne, and Kade Chastain, Megan and Michael Smith and Broc and
Addison Mingori.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Memorial Services will be 5pm Friday August 27, 2010 at Bath-Naylor
Funeral Home in Pittsburg, KS with Rev. Jim Sukraw officiating. E-mail
condolences may be left at www.bathnaylor.com. Arrangements and
services are under the direction of Bath-Naylor Funeral Home of
Pittsburg, KS.
===
Velva Margaret Pope, of Pittsburg , formerly of Madison , KS , passed
away on Sunday, August 22, 2010 at ViaChristi Regional Medical Center
.
She was born November 5, 1925 in Pond Creek , Oklahoma , the
daughter of James Leroy and Serepta Keziah (McBride) Barwick.
She married
Kermit Rochester Pope on December 18, 1947 in Boulder ,
Colorado . He preceded her in death on March 22, 1998.
She graduated from cosmetology school in Oklahoma and worked as a
beauty operator in her home state, as well as Colorado and Kansas .
Upon completion of Kermit’s service with the U.S. Army Air Corps, they
lived in Colorado as he attended Pharmacy School at the University of
Colorado , Boulder . With her husband, they operated Pope Drug Store
in Madison for 40 years. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern
Star, No. 350 Chapter (dissolved) and White Rose Chapter No. 297,
serving as Worthy Matron in 1968; the Topeka Social Order of the
Beauceant, Assembly No. 24; the American Legion Auxiliary, Emporia
Unit; and First Christian Church of Madison.
She enjoyed spending time with her family, traveling, and attending a
variety of social events. She will be remembered for her quick-wit,
outspokenness, and fondness for fashion.
Survivors include son James M. Pope and his wife Debby of Pittsburg;
five grandchildren Michael Gerwert and wife Kay of Hutchinson, Julie
(Pope) Cauffman of Wichita, Briana Pope of Aurora, Colorado,
Cassandra (Pope) Cohen and husband Dane of Topeka, and Jessica
Pope of Fayetteville, AR; five great grandchildren Joseph and Jacob
Gerwert, Christina and Kaylee Cauffman, and Kai Pope; and one great-
great grandchild Maricella Zepeda.
She was preceded in death by her parents; son Kermit Linné Pope,
brothers Rothard James Barwick and Vane Joseph Barwick; sisters
Verna Aletha (Barwick) Egelston and Ava Roberta (Barwick) Young; and
great-grandson David Lee Cauffman II.
A private family memorial service is planned for a later date.
Arrangements are under the direction of Bath-Naylor Funeral Home of
Pittsburg. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to
the SEK Humane Society or the Grand Chapter of Kansas Order of the
Eastern Star. Donations may be sent to or left at Bath Naylor Funeral
Home, 522 S. Broadway, Pittsburg , KS 66762.
===
John Joseph Hamilton 60, of Pittsburg , KS died 9:03pm Friday August
20, 2010 at Via Christi Hospital following a long illness.
John was born October 24, 19 49 in Bule Island , IL the son of Joseph
Hubert and Eleanore Louise (Wordelmann) Hamilton. He graduated from
Pittsburg State University Drafting School . On November 30, 1973 he
married Pauline Adamson in Winchester , KY ; she survives at the home.
John worked at a carpenter and draftsmen and enjoyed crafts in his
spare time. He also help start Oak Leaf Foundation in Pittsburg , KS and
was an advocate for the mentally ill. He also was on the county council
as a representative for the mental health.
John was a member of the Christ Community Church House of Prayer.
Survivors include his wife; children Rebecca Lee Hamilton and Shawn
Hamilton of Pittsburg , KS ; siblings Gerald Martin Hamilton of Cincinnati ,
OH and Joellen Marie Grant of Louisville , KY ; mother-in-law Dorothy
Belle Adamson and many numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Memorial Services will be 4pm Saturday August 28, 2010 at the Christ
Community Church House of Prayer 900 E. 4th St. , Pittsburg , KS . In
lieu of flowers the family ask expressions of sympathy be in the form of
memorials to the Haiti Health Mission P.O. Box 175 Girard, KS 66743.
Arrangements and services are under the direction of Bath-Naylor
Funeral Home of Pittsburg, KS.
