Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Geraldine Ann Ewing
LARNED - Geraldine Ann Ewing, 77, died Feb. 6, 2000, at Wesley Medical Center, Wichita.
She was born April 11, 1922, at Eskridge, the daughter of Roe and Lillian Gelbach Humphrey. She graduated from the University of Kansas in 1944. A Larned resident since 1953, moving from Bushton, she was a homemaker.
She belonged to the Presbyterian Church, where she was a past deacon and elder, was a member of the PEO, and was a past Jordaan Memorial Library board member, all at Larned.
On March 17, 1946, she married
Thomas D. Ewing at Topeka. He survives.
Other survivors include: two sons, Thomas H., Salida, Colo., and Gerald H., Portland, Ore.; a daughter, Ann H. Ewing Kimmett, Salida; a sister, Laura Owens, Lawrence; and two grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Stanley.
Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Presbyterian Church, Larned, with the Rev. Jim Hawthorne presiding. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and Thursday at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel, Larned. The casket will remained closed. Burial will be a private family graveside service.
Rafael Sanchez Almaraz
HOLCOMB - Rafael Sanchez Almaraz, 49, died Feb. 7, 2000, at his home.
He was born Oct. 24, 1950, at Francisco Madero, Zimapan, Hidalgo, Mexico, the son of Prisciliano Almaraz and Librada Sanchez Resendiz. A Holcomb resident since 1974, moving from Texas, he previously lived in Lakin, Deerfield and Garden City. He was a truck driver for Pappas Concrete for five years and worked at the Hinkle Drilling and Supply Co. for 19 years.
He belonged to St. Mary's Catholic Church and the GI Forum, both at Garden City.
On July 28, 1974, he married
Sonia M. Gloria at Garden City. She died July 13, 1995.
Survivors include: a son, Rafael S. Jr., Salina; two daughters, Yesenia A. Casas, Salina, and America R. Almaraz, Garden City; a companion, Midge Encinias, Holcomb; a stepdaughter, Hope Varela, Salina; his mother, Hidalgo, Mexico; a brother, Armando, Holcomb; two sisters, Carmen Resendiz, Hidalgo, Mexico, and Cristina Almaraz, Mexico City; a stepbrother, Pedro Almaraz, Florida; two stepsisters, Nicolasa and Agripina Almaraz, both of Mexico; and three grandsons.
He was preceded in death by a son, Cristobal A.; and a brother.
Spanish rosary will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at Garnand Funeral Home, Garden City. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Garden City, with Father James E. Baker presiding. Friends may call from 1 to 8 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Funeral service and burial will be at a later date in Hidalgo, Mexico.
Memorials may be sent to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, in care of the funeral home.
Dr. Lee Shriver `Jack' Fent II
NEWTON - Dr. Lee Shriver "Jack" Fent II, 55, died Feb. 7, 2000, at his home.
He was born July 7, 1944, at Wichita, the son of Dr. Lee Shriver and Selma Unruh Fent. A Newton resident since 1993, moving from Hays, he practiced in Hays for 19 years and was a pediatrician at Wichita Clinic Bethel.
He belonged to the American Academy of Pediatrics and was a former president and board member of the Early Childhood Development Center, Hays.
On Nov. 16, 1969, he married
Cindy Hill at Newton. She survives.
Other survivors include: his parents, Newton; two daughters, Laura Diane Fent, Wichita, and Lanya Eileen Fent, Los Angeles; and two sisters, Jan Johnson, Parkville, and Jill Thompson, Wichita.
There will be no services or visitation.
Memorials may be sent to the Early Childhood Development Center, Hays, or to the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks Wild Trust, both in care of Petersen Funeral Home, Newton.
Jean Holmes
MARION - Jean Holmes, 75, died Feb. 8, 2000, at Sandpiper Bay Health Center, Wichita.
She was born June 1, 1924, at Topeka, the daughter of Charles and Maude Taylor McKinney. A Marion resident for 46 years, she was a homemaker.
She belonged to the Presbyterian Church and the American Legion Auxiliary, both at Marion.
On March 16, 1942, she married
Bill Holmes at Topeka. He died Aug. 12, 1996.
Survivors include: two daughters, Lisa Navrat, Newton, and Tina Williams, Pinetop, Ariz.; eight grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Marion Cemetery, with the Rev. Brad Hansen presiding. There will be no visitation.
Memorials may be sent to the Marion Library, in care of Zeiner Funeral Home, Marion.
James `Jim' M. Sperry Jr.
ATCHISON - James "Jim" M. Sperry Jr., 41, died Feb. 6, 2000, in Platte County, Mo.
He was born March 28, 1958, at Chanute, the son of J. Melvin and Margaret Mason Sperry. An Atchison resident for the past 13 years, moving from Horton, he was a physician assistant at the Atchison Hospital Emergency Room.
He belonged to First United Methodist Church, Atchison, Masonic Lodge, Horton, the Physician Assistant Legislative Committee, was past president and president-elect of the Kansas Physicians Assistant Association and president of the Kansas Athletic Trainers Association.
Survivors include: a daughter, Emily Sperry, Valley Falls; his mother, Ellsworth; two sisters, Linda Booth, Shawnee, and Sue Wooten, Oklahoma City; four nephews; and three nieces.
He was preceded in death by his father.
Funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at United Methodist Church, Ellsworth, with Dr. John Snook presiding. Memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church, Atchison. Friends may call from 1 to 8 p.m. today and 8 to 11 a.m. Thursday at Parsons Funeral Home, Ellsworth, and from noon to service time Thursday at the church. Burial will be in Ellsworth Memorial Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to the First United Methodist Churches at Ellsworth or Atchison, or the Atchison Hospital Emergency Room Project, all in care of the funeral home.
Paul Marcus Tafolla
WAMEGO - Paul Marcus Tafolla, 31, of Wamego, died Feb. 6, 2000, in Topeka.
He was born Sept. 25, 1968, at Newton, the son of Paul Ellis and Sharon Kay Lett Tafolla. He attended Newton schools and graduated from Emporia State University with a degree in social rehabilitative services. A Wamego resident since 1997, moving from Hutchinson, he was employed by Three Rivers Independent Living Resource.
He belonged to St. Bernard's Catholic Church, Wamego.
On Dec. 5, 1998, he married
Kristi L. Weisbender at Flush. She survives.
Other survivors include: a sister, Sonya Tafolla, Oklahoma; his grandfather, Salvadore Tafolla, Newton; and numerous other relatives.
Rosary will be at 7 p.m. today at Stewart Funeral Home, Wamego. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Flush, with Father Tom Hesse presiding. Friends may call from 1 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to the Paul Marcus Tafolla Memorial Fund, in care of the funeral home.
David L. Johnson
BURDICK - David L. Johnson, 49, died Feb. 5, 2000, at his home.
He was born July 15, 1950, at Russellville, Ala., the son of Joel Benjamin and Della Mae Franks Johnson. A resident of the Herington and Burdick areas for the past 15 years, he was a farm worker.
He was a member of the American Legion at Burdick. He was a U. S. Army veteran, serving in Vietnam.
On Dec. 31, 1995, he married
Sabrina Kortje at Marion. She survives.
Other survivors include: two sons; one daughter, Lindy Roberts, Hutchinson; four brothers; two sisters; two grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Hebron Lutheran Church, Burdick, with the Rev. David A. Rush presiding. The family will receive friends at Donahue Funeral Home, Herington, from 7 to 8 p.m. today. Burial will be in Hebron Lutheran Cemetery, Burdick.
